ClosedNon-ProfitRound 1
Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 — NSW
NSW Department of Education
The Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 is a New South Wales funding program supporting approved early childhood education and care providers to trial new or adapted flexible operating models. It aims to improve accessibility of care for families, support educators, and build evidence for future program development.
Closed
1 Dec 2023
Duration
12 months
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Be an approved early childhood education and care service provider under the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) and related NSW regulation, excluding Department of Education preschools, operating in New South Wales.
• Be one of the eligible service types: community preschool (centre-based), mobile preschool, long day care, family day care, occasional care, or before and after school care.
• Either primarily provide care for children aged 0–6 years or propose activities that provide care to children within the 0–6 age range.
• Be registered, or willing to register, with the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).
• Agree to comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions.
• Describe and intend to provide a discrete and defined activity beyond the service’s normal, core, existing or ongoing activities.
• Hold a quality rating and compliance history of Meeting, Exceeding or Excellent against the National Standard.
• In limited circumstances, services rated Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating may be considered.
• Approved providers seeking to establish a new family day care service in outer regional, remote and very remote areas must already operate at least one assessed and rated service in New South Wales.
Applicants must be approved early childhood education and care service providers under the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) and the Children (Education and Care Services) Supplementary Provisions Regulation 2012, excluding Department of Education preschools, and operate in New South Wales. Eligible service types are community preschool (centre-based), mobile preschool, long day care, family day care, occasional care, and before and after school care. Applicants must either primarily provide care for children aged 0 to 6 years or propose activities that provide care to children in that age range. They must be registered, or willing to register, with the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Contract Management System, agree to comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions, and propose a discrete and defined activity beyond normal core or ongoing activities. Applicants must hold a quality rating and compliance history of Meeting, Exceeding or Excellent against the National Standard, although in limited circumstances services rated Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating may be considered. Approved providers seeking to establish a new family day care service in outer regional, remote and very remote areas must already operate at least one assessed and rated service in New South Wales.
What's Funded
Funded activities include extending service hours or days, offering flexible sessions or enrolment arrangements, establishing new family day care locations in outer regional, remote or very remote areas, and collaborative blended delivery models between two established approved services. Funding may cover program-related staffing and recruitment, transport, minor capital works, regulatory fees, software or equipment, and staff learning and development directly related to the initiative.Before you apply
Check Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 fit and evidence gaps before 1 Dec 2023
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 accessibility and flexibility of early childhood education and care for families in New South Wales, increased workforce participation, improved provider understanding of local needs, support for educators, and evidence to inform future childcare program development.Grant not accepting applications
Applications for this round are closed. A new round may open in the future.
Browse open grantsKey Information
Applicant Types
companynon_profitlocal_governmentother
Stage
established
Funding Purposes
communityemploymenttrainingcapital_expenditureother
Keywords
early childhood educationchildcareflexible carepreschoolfamily day carecommunity preschoolNew South WalesDepartment of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1?
The Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 is a non-profit grant offered by NSW Department of Education in Australia. The Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 is a New South Wales funding program supporting approved early childhood education and care providers to trial new or adapted flexible operating models. It aims to improve accessibility of care for families, support educators, and build evidence for future program development.
2
Who is eligible for the Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1?
- Be an approved early childhood education and care service provider under the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) and related NSW regulation, excluding Department of Education preschools, operating in New South Wales.
- Be one of the eligible service types: community preschool (centre-based), mobile preschool, long day care, family day care, occasional care, or before and after school care.
- Either primarily provide care for children aged 0–6 years or propose activities that provide care to children within the 0–6 age range.
- Be registered, or willing to register, with the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).
- Agree to comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions.
- Describe and intend to provide a discrete and defined activity beyond the service’s normal, core, existing or ongoing activities.
- Hold a quality rating and compliance history of Meeting, Exceeding or Excellent against the National Standard.
- In limited circumstances, services rated Working Towards or awaiting assessment and rating may be considered.
- Approved providers seeking to establish a new family day care service in outer regional, remote and very remote areas must already operate at least one assessed and rated service in New South Wales.
3
When does the Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1 close?
Applications closed on 1 Dec 2023.
4
What activities are funded?
Funded activities include extending service hours or days, offering flexible sessions or enrolment arrangements, establishing new family day care locations in outer regional, remote or very remote areas, and collaborative blended delivery models between two established approved services. Funding may cover program-related staffing and recruitment, transport, minor capital works, regulatory fees, software or equipment, and staff learning and development directly related to the initiative.
5
How do I apply for the Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial Round 1?
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.
Need help applying?
Beta Docs has helped founders secure $160M+ in competitive grants. Our AI platform drafts compliance-perfect applications — and our expert reviewers make sure you stand out.