ClosedNon-Profit2025
2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care — NSW
Department of Education
The 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care program provides funding to eligible long day care services in New South Wales to deliver affordable, quality preschool education for children aged 3 and above. Funding supports program delivery, fee relief for families, educator capability uplift, and related preschool education activities.
Closed
31 Dec 2025
Duration
1 year
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Must have service approval for an eligible education and care service under the relevant legislation
• Must operate as a centre-based long day care service, or be an eligible Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service, occasional education and care service, or mobile education and care service
• Must be approved to administer the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law
• Must be operating and reporting as a Centre Based Day Care approval through the Child Care Subsidy System
• Must deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged 3 and above
• Program must be delivered by, or for 3-year-old children developed by, a qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the National Quality Framework
• Must use the Early Years Framework
• Must accept and comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
• Services must take reasonable steps to deliver 600 hours of quality preschool to children in the two years before school
• Mobile education and care services funded through the Mobile Preschool Funding Program or Start Strong for Community Preschools program are not eligible
To be eligible, a provider must have service approval to operate an eligible service under the relevant education and care legislation, including centre-based long day care services and certain Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, occasional education and care services, or mobile education and care services. The provider must be approved to operate a service and administer the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law and be operating and reporting as a Centre Based Day Care approval through the Child Care Subsidy System. The service must deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged 3 and above, delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the National Quality Framework and using the Early Years Framework, with a modified requirement for 3-year-old children that the program need only be developed by a qualified early childhood teacher. Providers must accept and comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Services must take reasonable steps to deliver 600 hours of quality preschool to children in the two years before school. Mobile education and care services already funded through the Mobile Preschool Funding Program or Start Strong for Community Preschools program are not eligible.
What's Funded
Funding supports delivery of preschool education programs for children aged 3 and above in eligible long day care services, fee relief for families, capability uplift of early childhood teachers and educators, attraction and retention of educators, purchase of educational resources, program development, and community outreach to promote early childhood education.Before you apply
Check 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care fit and evidence gaps before 31 Dec 2025
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 services deliver quality preschool education, work toward providing 600 hours of preschool in the two years before school, reduce fees for families, and improve access and quality outcomes for children including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children in disadvantaged areas.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_profitcompanyindigenous_organisationother
Stage
established
Funding Purposes
communitytrainingemploymentother
Keywords
early childhood educationpreschoollong day carefee reliefchildrenNew South WalesDepartment of EducationAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care?
The 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care is a non-profit grant offered by Department of Education in Australia. The 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care program provides funding to eligible long day care services in New South Wales to deliver affordable, quality preschool education for children aged 3 and above. Funding supports program delivery, fee relief for families, educator capability uplift, and related preschool education activities.
2
Who is eligible for the 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care?
- Must have service approval for an eligible education and care service under the relevant legislation
- Must operate as a centre-based long day care service, or be an eligible Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service, occasional education and care service, or mobile education and care service
- Must be approved to administer the Child Care Subsidy under Family Assistance Law
- Must be operating and reporting as a Centre Based Day Care approval through the Child Care Subsidy System
- Must deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged 3 and above
- Program must be delivered by, or for 3-year-old children developed by, a qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with the National Quality Framework
- Must use the Early Years Framework
- Must accept and comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
- Services must take reasonable steps to deliver 600 hours of quality preschool to children in the two years before school
- Mobile education and care services funded through the Mobile Preschool Funding Program or Start Strong for Community Preschools program are not eligible
3
When does the 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care close?
Applications closed on 31 Dec 2025.
4
What activities are funded?
Funding supports delivery of preschool education programs for children aged 3 and above in eligible long day care services, fee relief for families, capability uplift of early childhood teachers and educators, attraction and retention of educators, purchase of educational resources, program development, and community outreach to promote early childhood education.
5
How do I apply for the 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care?
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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