ClosedNon-ProfitRound 1 Expression of Interest
ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest — NSW
$50K – $800K available
Department of Education
This New South Wales grant program invites expressions of interest from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations involved in early childhood education and care. Funding supports expanding or strengthening ACCO-led ECEC services and helping ACCOs overcome barriers to becoming approved ECEC providers.
Funding
$50K – $800K
Closed
25 May 2026
Duration
up to 4 years
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Only Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) are eligible.
• The organisation must be incorporated under relevant legislation and be not-for-profit.
• The organisation must be controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• The organisation must be connected to the community or communities in which it delivers services.
• The organisation must be governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.
• Applicants for Streams 1 or 2 must have ECEC service approval or have applied for service approval.
• Streams 1 or 2 applicants must be approved ECEC service providers, or have a pending ECEC service approval application with the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority.
• Eligible Streams 1 or 2 services must operate in New South Wales.
• Eligible service types include centre-based day care, long day care, outside school hours care, family day care, occasional care, and mobile preschool.
• Applicants for Stream 3 must provide evidence of community consultation and endorsement for the project.
• Applicants for Stream 3 must be facing barriers to ECEC provider approval, such as land or premises access issues, regulatory compliance, planning, or project scoping.
• Applicants for Stream 3 must provide evidence that funding will reduce barriers to establishing the project.
Only Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) are eligible. An ACCO must be incorporated under relevant legislation, be not-for-profit, be controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, be connected to the community or communities in which it delivers services, and be governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body. For Streams 1 or 2, applicants must have ECEC service approval or have applied for service approval, and must be an approved ECEC service provider or have submitted an application for ECEC service approval that is yet to be determined by the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority, to operate one or more eligible ECEC services in New South Wales. Eligible service types include centre-based day care, long day care, outside school hours care, family day care, occasional care, and mobile preschool. For Stream 3, applicants must provide evidence of community consultation and endorsement for the project, be facing barriers to ECEC provider approval such as land or premises access issues, regulatory compliance, planning or project scoping, and provide evidence that funding will be used to reduce barriers to establishment of the project.
What's Funded
Funded activities include establishing new or expanded ECEC services, extending hours or places, staffing and workforce development, cultural education programs, transport and extended hours, minor building works, feasibility studies, regulatory compliance support, planning and project scoping, and resolving land or premises access issues.Before you apply
Check ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest fit and evidence gaps before 25 May 2026
Use this non-profit grant page to sanity-check eligibility, funding fit, evidence gaps and application effort before you commit days to drafting. If you already know the grant you want, the 48-hour audit gives a practical go/no-go view, reviewer-readiness score and next-step risks.
Get a 48-hour grant fit auditExpected Outcomes
Expected outcomes include increased ACCO-led early childhood education and care capacity in New South Wales, stronger culturally responsive ECEC services, improved workforce capability, and progress toward provider approval for ACCOs seeking to establish services.Grant not accepting applications
Applications for this round are closed. A new round may open in the future.
Browse open grantsKey Information
Applicant Types
non_profitindigenous_organisation
Stage
any
Funding Purposes
communitytrainingemploymentcapital_expenditureother
Keywords
Aboriginal Community Controlled OrganisationsACCOearly childhood education and careECECFirst Nationscommunity servicescultural educationservice expansion
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest?
The ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest is a non-profit grant offered by Department of Education in Australia, providing $50K – $800K in funding. This New South Wales grant program invites expressions of interest from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations involved in early childhood education and care. Funding supports expanding or strengthening ACCO-led ECEC services and helping ACCOs overcome barriers to becoming approved ECEC providers.
2
How much funding does the ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest provide?
The ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest provides $50K – $800K in funding. The typical project duration is up to 4 years.
3
Who is eligible for the ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest?
- Only Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) are eligible.
- The organisation must be incorporated under relevant legislation and be not-for-profit.
- The organisation must be controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
- The organisation must be connected to the community or communities in which it delivers services.
- The organisation must be governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.
- Applicants for Streams 1 or 2 must have ECEC service approval or have applied for service approval.
- Streams 1 or 2 applicants must be approved ECEC service providers, or have a pending ECEC service approval application with the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority.
- Eligible Streams 1 or 2 services must operate in New South Wales.
- Eligible service types include centre-based day care, long day care, outside school hours care, family day care, occasional care, and mobile preschool.
- Applicants for Stream 3 must provide evidence of community consultation and endorsement for the project.
- Applicants for Stream 3 must be facing barriers to ECEC provider approval, such as land or premises access issues, regulatory compliance, planning, or project scoping.
- Applicants for Stream 3 must provide evidence that funding will reduce barriers to establishing the project.
4
When does the ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest close?
Applications closed on 25 May 2026.
5
What activities are funded?
Funded activities include establishing new or expanded ECEC services, extending hours or places, staffing and workforce development, cultural education programs, transport and extended hours, minor building works, feasibility studies, regulatory compliance support, planning and project scoping, and resolving land or premises access issues.
6
How do I apply for the ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Round 1 Expression of Interest?
Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.
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