Open NowNon-Profit2026-2027
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) — Australia
$1K – $10K available · Rolling Applications
Department of Education
This grant provides a wage subsidy to early childhood education and care services so employees can take paid leave while undertaking their paid practicum. It is a demand driven opportunity for eligible Child Care Subsidy-approved providers 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 services.
• 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 student visa) allowing employment in the ECEC sector.
• Employee must be a contact worker or a non-contact worker as defined in the guidelines.
• Employee must be full-time, part-time, or casual and have worked more than 40 hours overall in the preceding three months with the service.
• Provider must not be a stand-alone kindergarten service that is not approved for and receiving CCS.
• Provider must not be a stand-alone pre-school service that is not approved for and receiving CCS.
• Provider must not be an individual.
• Provider and project partner must not be included on the National Redress Scheme website.
• Provider must not have outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding.
• Provider must not already be receiving the maximum amount of funding (8 weeks) for the same ECEC employee for the same period from the Commonwealth or a state or territory government.
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. Eligible employees must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, 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 as defined; and be full-time, part-time, or casual employees who have worked more than 40 hours overall in the preceding three months with that service. Providers must not be stand-alone kindergarten or pre-school services not approved for and receiving CCS, individuals, organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme website, entities with outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding, or entities already receiving the maximum funding of 8 weeks for the same employee for the same period from the Commonwealth or a state or territory government.
What's Funded
Wage subsidies for eligible ECEC employees to undertake paid practicum placements while remaining on paid leave from their service.Before you apply
Check Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Paid Practicum Grant Opportunity Guidelines (2026-2027) fit and evidence gaps before 3 July 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
Eligible ECEC employees complete paid practicum requirements, supporting workforce capability and retention in approved early childhood education and care services.Key Information
Applicant Types
non_profitcompanyother
Stage
established
Funding Purposes
trainingemploymentcommunity
Keywords
early childhood education and careECECpaid practicumwage subsidychild care subsidyworkforceeducatorstraining
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 non-profit 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 paid practicum. It is a demand driven opportunity for eligible Child Care Subsidy-approved providers 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 services.
- 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 student visa) allowing employment in the ECEC sector.
- Employee must be a contact worker or a non-contact worker as defined in the guidelines.
- Employee must be full-time, part-time, or casual and have worked more than 40 hours overall in the preceding three months with the service.
- Provider must not be a stand-alone kindergarten service that is not approved for and receiving CCS.
- Provider must not be a stand-alone pre-school service that is not approved for and receiving CCS.
- Provider must not be an individual.
- Provider and project partner must not be included on the National Redress Scheme website.
- Provider must not have outstanding invoices for previous Paid Practicum or Professional Development grant funding.
- Provider must not already be receiving the maximum amount of funding (8 weeks) for the same ECEC employee for the same period from the Commonwealth or a state or territory government.
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?
Wage subsidies for eligible ECEC employees to undertake paid practicum placements while remaining on paid leave from their service.
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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