Professional development subsidy

Overview

The professional development subsidy covers 2 days of training (up to 15.2 hours). It aims to:

• build capacity and skills in the early childhood workforce
• allow services to maintain adult-to-child ratios while staff complete training.

Eligible qualified staff include:

• early childhood educators
• early childhood teachers
• centre managers.

Initially, the subsidy prioritises particular groups including:

• services and staff in regional, remote and very remote locations
• First Nations services and educators.

For the 2023–24 financial year, only services in these priority groups can apply for this subsidy. In later years other services can also apply.

Eligible staff can use the subsidy for mandatory training such as:

• first aid
• asthma and allergies management.

They can also use the funds to complete highly-recommended training such as:

• centre and complaints management
• child protection and mandatory reporting requirements
• food handling and hygiene
• adult–child relationship development and management
• other safety-related training.

The subsidy can also be used to participate in a mentoring or leadership program. Such programs must be delivered by a registered training organisation.

How it works

The subsidy can be used to:

• supplement the cost of backfilling while staff engage in further mandatory or highly-recommended training
• pay staff a supplement for training undertaken outside of work hours.

Staff cannot apply for the subsidy directly. The application must come from their service.

The subsidy is a flat daily rate. This rate is based on current award rates and includes a 25% casual loading.

• early childhood educator daily rate: $250.04
• early childhood teacher daily rate: $378.48
• centre manager daily rate: $355.21

Find current award information on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Eligible services will receive funding based on the number of days they forecast for their staff to undertake professional development.

Training funded in 2023–24 can be undertaken during the 2023–24 or 2024–25 financial years.

In 2023–24 the subsidy will be delivered to services through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) system. Payments in later years will be made through the Community Grants Hub.

Service eligibility

In the 2023–24 financial year, priority will be given to particular groups, including services in inner regional, outer regional, remote or very remote areas.

First Nations ECEC services are also eligible for the subsidy. Any service with First Nations staff is also eligible to apply for the subsidy to support First Nations staff to complete their training.

Services must run a CCS-approved service.

Staff eligibility

Educators, teachers and managers are eligible if they:

• work for an eligible service
• are part of the adult-to-child ratio
• are full-time, part-time or casual
• worked more than 40 hours in the preceding 3 months with that service.

Staff must complete their training between August 2023 and June 2025.

How to apply

In July 2023, eligible services will receive invitations for the professional development subsidy.

If you think you might be eligible, you should read the subsidy guidelines before invitations go out.