Limited supply grant

The Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) limited supply grant supports the establishment of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in identified priority areas. This grant opportunity closed for applications on 8 June 2023.

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About the grant

The Australian Government is providing up to $18 million over 2 years for new early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Funding will be available to June 2025.

Grants are for new Centre Based Day Care (CBDC) services and Family Day Care (FDC) premises:

  • in areas experiencing disadvantage in regional and remote areas of Australia
  • where there are no or limited similar services.

Grants provide establishment and capital support funding and aim to:

  • set up services in communities experiencing disadvantage in regional and remote areas where there is a gap in the supply of approved services
  • help providers build capacity and operate sustainably
  • increase the number of children from areas experiencing disadvantage in regional and remote areas accessing ECEC
  • enable local workforce participation by increasing access to ECEC.

Applications for the grant closed on 8 June 2023.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the grant, applicants had to be:

  • an approved provider under Family Assistance Law (FAL)
  • seeking to operate a new CBDC service or FDC premises
  • planning to establish the early childhood service in an identified priority area.

How funding works

Grants are for the 2-year period from 2023–24 to 2024–25.

A service will receive a maximum of $900,000 over the 2 years:

  • $600,000 for establishment and sustainability support
  • $300,000 for capital support.

Grant amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on:

  • activities included in the application
  • circumstances of the applicants
  • priorities of the program.

Applicants must make a capital contribution of at least 50% of the total cost of the project.

How funding can be used

The grant funds new services for establishment and sustainability support costs, and capital works.

Costs for establishment and sustainability of a new service include:

  • Operational start-up. For example, the cost to obtain National Law and FAL approvals.
  • Providing early childhood education and care.
  • Developing and implementing a business plan.
  • Upskilling local staff or educators with training. This includes backfilling costs while a staff member is in training.
  • Transport assistance for children.

Capital works include:

  • Extending or modifying buildings. This can include a community centre or other building for a new service.
  • Building a new centre or facilities for use by a new service.
  • Other activities agreed by us.

Key dates

3 May 2023: Applications opened.

8 June 2023: Applications closed.

More information

We will advise applicants and the sector of the outcome of applications in September 2023.

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