The Australian Government has announced the $5 million Long Day Care National Quality Framework Transition Support One-off Grant.This funding will support Long Day Care services in disadvantaged areas to meet the requirements of the National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care.
One-off grants of $5,000 for around 1000 Long Day care centres in the most disadvantaged areas will be available during 2011–12 to fund services to undertake quality improvements in preparation for the implementation of the transition to the National Quality Framework.
To identify Long Day Care services operating in low socio-economic areas of need, service eligibility will be determined using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage based on the 2006 Census of Population and Housing.
Eligible services will be able to use the new funds to support a range of activities to assist them to prepare for the implementation of the National Quality Framework, including:
- providing relief staff so that educators can attend professional development or upgrade their qualifications
- purchasing learning and play materials of first aid kits
- engaging additional professional advice or acquiring additional equipment.
Eligible Long Day Care services will be contacted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations over the coming weeks and an offer of funding will be made. This process will ease the administrative burden on services and make it as easy as possible to distribute the funds.
This additional support to Long Day Care services in disadvantaged areas will contribute to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children in our society.
Report Assistance
Guidelines
Information sheet
List of services that are eligible for the Grant
Media release announcing the Grant.