Open NowMixed2026-2027
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027)
Department of Education · Australia
This grant provides a wage subsidy to early childhood education and care services so employees can take paid leave while undertaking their practicum. It is a demand-driven opportunity for approved Child Care Subsidy receiving ECEC services across Australia.
Funding
$1K – $10K
Deadline
Rolling / Ongoing
Duration
up to 8 weeks
Location
Australia
Who Can Apply
• Applicant must be an ECEC service currently approved for and receiving the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law.
• Eligible service types include long day care, family day care, in-home care, centre-based day care and outside school hours care.
• Applications are made by eligible providers on behalf of their employees.
• Employee must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid work visa including a student visa allowing employment in the ECEC sector.
• Employee must be a contact worker or a non-contact worker such as a director or educational leader providing direct support, education and care, or supervision.
• Employee must be full-time, part-time or casual and have worked more than 40 hours in total in the preceding three months with the service.
• Ineligible applicants include stand-alone kindergarten or pre-school services not approved for and receiving CCS.
• Ineligible applicants include individuals.
• Ineligible applicants include organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme website.
• Ineligible applicants include entities with outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding.
• Ineligible applicants include entities already receiving the maximum 8 weeks of funding for the same employee for the same period from Commonwealth or state or territory government sources.
Only ECEC services currently approved for and receiving the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law, including long day care, family day care, in-home care, centre-based day care and outside school hours care services, are eligible and can apply for their employees. To be eligible, the employee must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or hold a valid work visa including a student visa allowing employment in the ECEC sector; be either a contact worker or a non-contact worker such as a director or educational leader providing direct support, education and care, or supervision; and be a full-time, part-time or casual employee who has worked more than 40 hours overall in the preceding three months with that service. The provider must not be a stand-alone kindergarten or pre-school service not approved for and receiving CCS, an individual, an organisation listed on the National Redress Scheme website, an entity with outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding, or an entity already receiving the maximum amount of funding of 8 weeks for the same employee for the same period from the Commonwealth or a state or territory government.
What's Funded
Funding supports paid practicum leave for eligible early childhood education and care employees, with the grant acting as a wage subsidy while the employee undertakes their practicum.Expected Outcomes
Eligible ECEC employees complete required practicum placements while remaining on paid leave, supporting workforce development and qualification progression in the ECEC sector.Key Information
Applicant Types
other
Stage
any
Funding Purposes
trainingemployment
Keywords
early childhood educationchild careECECpaid practicumwage subsidyworkforcetrainingChild Care Subsidy
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027)?
The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) is a mixed grant offered by Department of Education in Australia, providing $1K – $10K in funding. This grant provides a wage subsidy to early childhood education and care services so employees can take paid leave while undertaking their practicum. It is a demand-driven opportunity for approved Child Care Subsidy receiving ECEC services across Australia.
2
How much funding does the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) provide?
The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) provides $1K – $10K in funding. The typical project duration is up to 8 weeks.
3
Who is eligible for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027)?
- Applicant must be an ECEC service currently approved for and receiving the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law.
- Eligible service types include long day care, family day care, in-home care, centre-based day care and outside school hours care.
- Applications are made by eligible providers on behalf of their employees.
- Employee must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid work visa including a student visa allowing employment in the ECEC sector.
- Employee must be a contact worker or a non-contact worker such as a director or educational leader providing direct support, education and care, or supervision.
- Employee must be full-time, part-time or casual and have worked more than 40 hours in total in the preceding three months with the service.
- Ineligible applicants include stand-alone kindergarten or pre-school services not approved for and receiving CCS.
- Ineligible applicants include individuals.
- Ineligible applicants include organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme website.
- Ineligible applicants include entities with outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding.
- Ineligible applicants include entities already receiving the maximum 8 weeks of funding for the same employee for the same period from Commonwealth or state or territory government sources.
4
When does the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) close?
Applications close on 3 July 2026. This is a rolling program — new rounds may open.
5
What activities are funded?
Funding supports paid practicum leave for eligible early childhood education and care employees, with the grant acting as a wage subsidy while the employee undertakes their practicum.
6
How do I apply for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027)?
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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