We are building an evidence-based picture of the true and reasonable costs of delivering safe, quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) across Australia.
On this page:
Registration is now open. Help shape the future of ECEC by telling us what it costs to deliver quality ECEC.
About the project
What is the project?
The Early Education Service Delivery Prices project is a national data exercise to understand the costs of delivering safe and quality ECEC across Australia. It will help government make data driven decisions about the path to universal, affordable ECEC.
Who is involved?
The Australian Government Department of Education is leading the project.
Deloitte Access Economics is supporting us to conduct this research, including conducting stakeholder engagement and data collection and analysis. Deloitte Access Economics has:
- experience supporting governments and the sector with issues related to ECEC reform
- a deep understanding of the ECEC sector
- strong expertise in costing, funding and pricing research.
Deloitte Access Economics is consulting with:
- ECEC providers and services
- ECEC peak bodies
- ECEC experts
- ECEC educators
- First Nations peaks
- parents and carers
- family peaks
- unions
- all levels of government.
A Service Delivery Prices Sector Reference Group provides advice and represents sector views. Members include:
- representatives from ECEC peak bodies
- ECEC providers with practical/operational expertise.
How will it work?
Deloitte Access Economics will:
- examine key areas required to deliver safe and quality ECEC (e.g. fair wages, property costs and utilities)
- contact providers asking for cost data and cost drivers
- support providers in participating in the project
- review and calculate the reasonable cost of providing safe and quality ECEC
- analyse additional costs of service delivery for higher-needs cohorts
- provide us with data, models and analysis to inform future policy.
The data will reflect how costs vary across:
- care types
- geographical locations
- higher needs cohorts (e.g. children aged 0–2 years old)
- business types.
The project will not alter current funding settings or set prices for ECEC services. Any future reforms remain a decision for government.
What is the timeline?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August to September 2025 | Initial consultations with key stakeholders |
| December 2025 | Data collection for large providers starts |
| May 2026 | Data collection for all other providers starts |
| June 2026 | Data collection complete for large providers |
| August 2026 | Data collection complete for all other providers |
Taking part in the project
Can my service take part?
All CCS-approved providers and services can participate, including:
- Centre Based Day Care
- Outside School Hours Care
- Family Day Care
- In Home Care.
Preschool programs delivered within these settings are included. Standalone preschools/kindergartens not eligible for CCS are excluded.
We will also collect perspectives from ECEC educators, parents and carers through a family and workforce survey soon. This will explore perspectives on quality, cost and value.
How do we participate?
We are inviting all CCS-approved providers to participate. Look out for an email from Deloitte Access Economics (EESDP@deloitte.com.au). Please check your junk or spam folders if you can’t locate the email.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children will work with Deloitte Access Economics to contact Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
Step 1: Confirm your intention to participate
You will receive an email from Deloitte Access Economics (EESDP@deloitte.com.au) about the project. Confirm your intention to participate by responding to the email.
Step 2: Set up your account
Deloitte Access Economics will send you log in details for the secure online portal. Set up your account using the log in details.
Step 3: Choose your participation
Once registered, you can choose your level of involvement:
- complete a qualitative survey about your context and views
- provide financial and other documents to support the research
- opt in for detailed data collection if you’d like to provide more in-depth data.
What data will we be asked to provide?
We are collecting quantitative and qualitative information through a secure online portal. You may be asked to provide information in up to 3 parts, depending on how you choose to participate.
| Data collection | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Survey | An optional survey asks about:
|
| Financial documents | You can then choose to upload financial and other documents to help us understand your service’s costs. These could include:
|
| Detailed data collection | You can also choose to opt in for a more detailed data collection process. This will involve providing both financial and non-financial information about the inputs and activities that drive the cost of quality in your service(s). Online or in-person support will be available to assist with your participation. Only a selection of services will be invited for this stage, to ensure a representative sample across the sector. |
When is the deadline?
The data portal will remain open until August 2026. Providers are encouraged to participate as soon as possible, before this date.
How will our information be used and protected?
Your data will be used to:
- analyse how and why costs vary
- develop a dataset and model that informs the development of service delivery prices.
We may also use the data to inform future ECEC reforms.
We are committed to protecting commercially sensitive information. All data will be secured in accordance with the Protective Security Policy Framework.
All information will be confidential and handled in accordance with the department’s privacy policy.
What support is available?
Help is available to ensure all providers can take part.
Small provider relief payment
This payment will support small providers to participate in the project. It will be available to:
- Centre Based Day Care or Outside School Hours Care providers that operate up to 2 services or have up to 140 licensed places (including related entities)
- Family Day Care providers and educators, except those operated by state or territory governments
- In Home Care providers and educators
- providers that are Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
To be eligible, providers must:
- have a valid ABN
- be CCS eligible
- participate in the Stage 2 detailed data collection process
- provide data to Deloitte Access Economics.
Eligible providers can get a fixed payment of:
- $834.90 per service for online consultations
- $1,216.60 per service for in-person consultations.
You don’t need to apply for this grant. We will assess your eligibility based on the information you submit during data collection.
Payments will be made to services after the consultation has occurred. You can use the funds however you choose. We will contact you to arrange payment.
If you have any questions about this grant opportunity, email ECECworkforce@education.gov.au.
One-on-one support
Dedicated one-on-one support is available for providers and services participating in detailed data collection. Deloitte Access Economics will be in contact to share more information about how they will support you. You can also directly email EESDP@deloitte.com.au or call 1800 371 146 with questions.
General support
All providers can contact Deloitte Access Economics for help navigating the portal or providing information. Email EESDP@deloitte.com.au or call 1800 371 146.
Resources
Providers can access resources, including factsheets, FAQs and videos through the data portal.
Project context
Why does this matter?
A clear picture of service delivery costs will help to:
- identify the cost drivers of safe and quality ECEC
- quantify reasonable costs
- inform future reforms on the pathway to universal ECEC.
How is the project different from ACCC and Productivity Commission inquiries?
The project:
- has been informed by the ACCC price inquiry and Productivity Commission inquiry into ECEC
- expands on this work to understand the reasonable cost of quality ECEC service delivery across Australia.
Who are the ECEC experts?
Deloitte Access Economics is partnering with a range of ECEC experts, including:
| Expert partner | Description |
|---|---|
| SNAICC – National Voice for our Children | SNAICC is the national non-governmental peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, working for the fulfilment of the rights of children to ensure their safety, development and well-being. Partnering with SNAICC will embed expertise in culturally responsive practices and innovative ECEC program delivery in the project. |
| Professor Karen Thorpe and colleagues at the Queensland Brain Institute | The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), part of the University of Queensland, plays a pivotal role in early childhood education by applying cutting-edge neuroscience research to enhance educational practices. Professor Karen Thorpe’s expertise will ensure contemporary academic evidence is incorporated throughout the research. |
| Dr Dan Cloney and Dr Jen Jackson and colleagues at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) | ACER is a not-for-profit research organisation with a mission to create and promote evidence-based knowledge, products and services that can be used to enhance learning experiences and outcomes for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Partnering with Dr Dan Cloney will ensure that all project activities and deliverables are grounded in evidence-based practices which consider the impact of quality learning environments on intended outcomes. Partnering with Dr Jen Jackson will ensure that all aspects of drivers of improved ECEC service quality are sufficiently considered. |
| Professor Gordon Cleveland | Gordon Cleveland is Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough. His research spans all aspects of early childhood education and care. Partnering with Gordon will enable his expertise regarding ECEC costing, pricing and system design to inform the design and analysis phases of this project. |
| Professor Jason Downer | Jason Downer is a Professor at the University of Virginia in the School of Education and Human Development. Professor Downer’s research focuses on the criticality of targeted and preventative interventions in promoting children and young students’ academic, social, and behaviour competence. Partnering with Jason will enable his expertise regarding quality, its drivers and the relationship between quality and practice to inform the design and analysis phases of this project. |
What is the legislative basis?
To support the Early Education Service Delivery Prices project, the government has amended the Family Assistance Administration Act.
The changes mean we can request information from providers about the cost of delivering ECEC, if we need it.
The project aims to better understand what it costs providers to deliver quality ECEC, as part of the path to universal ECEC. A robust and representative data collection is essential to the project’s success.
We encourage all providers to participate voluntarily. By doing so, you will help:
- ensure the data reflects the diversity of the sector
- inform future reforms
- pave the way to universal ECEC.
The amendment strengthens the project by ensuring robust and representative data collection. The power applies only to constitutional corporations.
It may be necessary to issue a notice as a last resort to help fill any data gaps. Non-compliance with a notice issued under Family Assistance Law may result in penalties.
Staying informed
If you have questions about the project, contact ececreforms@education.gov.au.
If you need help with the portal or data collection, email EESDP@deloitte.com.au or call 1800 371 146.
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