ClosedBusinessRound 2
Business Capability Development Program Round 2 — NSW
Up to $14K available
Department of Education
This NSW program supports small early childhood education and care providers in selected New South Wales trial locations to improve business leadership and management capability. Participating services can access payments of up to $13,650 to support staff participation in program activities.
Funding
Up to $14K
Closed
30 Mar 2026
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Must operate in New South Wales within one of the eligible SA3 trial locations: Queanbeyan, Griffith - Murrumbidgee (West), Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Camden, Campbelltown, Penrith or St Marys
• Must be an approved ECEC service provider under the relevant NSW legislation
• Eligible service types are community preschool (centre-based), long day care, or mobile preschool
• Must be a small approved provider with between 1 and 6 New South Wales ECEC services
• Must deliver an early childhood education program designed by a degree qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework and relevant legislation
• Must hold a quality rating and compliance history of at least Meeting the National Standard for the relevant service, with limited exceptions for Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating
• Must be registered, or willing and able to register, with the Early Childhood Contract Management System
• Must agree to participate in relevant program and funding activities
• Must submit a satisfactory application form and self-assessment via SmartyGrants completed by an Authorised Officer
• Public preschools, family day care services and out of school hours care services cannot apply
• Services eligible for the Australian Government Community Child Care Fund business support grant recipients program cannot apply
• Services eligible for the NSW Sector Strengthening Partnership cannot apply
• Services that participated in both stages of Round 1 cannot apply
Applicants must operate in New South Wales within one of the eight eligible SA3 trial locations: Queanbeyan, Griffith - Murrumbidgee (West), Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Camden, Campbelltown, Penrith or St Marys. The applicant must be an approved early childhood education and care service provider under the relevant NSW legislation, excluding public preschools, and must be one of the following service types: community preschool (centre-based), long day care, or mobile preschool. The applicant must be a small approved provider with between 1 and 6 NSW ECEC services. The service must deliver an early childhood education program designed by a degree qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework and relevant legislation. The applicant must hold a quality rating and compliance history of at least Meeting the National Standard for the relevant service, although in limited circumstances services rated Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating may be considered. The applicant must be registered, or willing and able to register, with the Department of Education's Early Childhood Contract Management System, agree to participate in relevant program and funding activities, and submit a satisfactory application form and self-assessment via SmartyGrants completed by an Authorised Officer. Public preschools, family day care services, out of school hours care services, services eligible for specified Commonwealth or NSW support programs, and services that participated in both stages of Round 1 are not eligible.
What's Funded
Funded participation includes business leadership and management capability development activities such as governance and oversight, community and staff engagement, change management, staff management, administration processes, operational management, work health and safety, financial management, information technology processes, and strategy or business planning. Access payments may be used to backfill staff or supplement wages for staff participating outside work hours.Before you apply
Check Business Capability Development Program Round 2 fit and evidence gaps before 30 Mar 2026
Use this business 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 improved viability and sustainability of eligible ECEC services, stronger workforce business leadership and management capability, and better support for families, children and the ECEC workforce.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_profitcompanyother
Stage
established
Funding Purposes
trainingcommunityother
Keywords
early childhood education and careECECbusiness capabilityservice viabilitysmall providersstaff backfillleadershipmanagement
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Business Capability Development Program Round 2?
The Business Capability Development Program Round 2 is a business grant offered by Department of Education in Australia, providing Up to $14K in funding. This NSW program supports small early childhood education and care providers in selected New South Wales trial locations to improve business leadership and management capability. Participating services can access payments of up to $13,650 to support staff participation in program activities.
2
How much funding does the Business Capability Development Program Round 2 provide?
The Business Capability Development Program Round 2 provides Up to $14K in funding.
3
Who is eligible for the Business Capability Development Program Round 2?
- Must operate in New South Wales within one of the eligible SA3 trial locations: Queanbeyan, Griffith - Murrumbidgee (West), Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Camden, Campbelltown, Penrith or St Marys
- Must be an approved ECEC service provider under the relevant NSW legislation
- Eligible service types are community preschool (centre-based), long day care, or mobile preschool
- Must be a small approved provider with between 1 and 6 New South Wales ECEC services
- Must deliver an early childhood education program designed by a degree qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework and relevant legislation
- Must hold a quality rating and compliance history of at least Meeting the National Standard for the relevant service, with limited exceptions for Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating
- Must be registered, or willing and able to register, with the Early Childhood Contract Management System
- Must agree to participate in relevant program and funding activities
- Must submit a satisfactory application form and self-assessment via SmartyGrants completed by an Authorised Officer
- Public preschools, family day care services and out of school hours care services cannot apply
- Services eligible for the Australian Government Community Child Care Fund business support grant recipients program cannot apply
- Services eligible for the NSW Sector Strengthening Partnership cannot apply
- Services that participated in both stages of Round 1 cannot apply
4
When does the Business Capability Development Program Round 2 close?
Applications closed on 30 Mar 2026.
5
What activities are funded?
Funded participation includes business leadership and management capability development activities such as governance and oversight, community and staff engagement, change management, staff management, administration processes, operational management, work health and safety, financial management, information technology processes, and strategy or business planning. Access payments may be used to backfill staff or supplement wages for staff participating outside work hours.
6
How do I apply for the Business Capability Development Program Round 2?
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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