Preschools on non-government school sites program

This grant program provides funding to build new or upgrade existing preschools on at least 50 non-government school sites, at both independent and Catholic schools in NSW.

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Key information

  • Status: Open
  • Grant amount: Up to $4,000,000
  • Application opened: 28 November 2025
  • Application closes: 31 March 2026, 6:00 pm
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Program objective

The program will support more children and families to access quality preschool across NSW. 

Grants under the program will be directed towards non-government schools that provide primary education (primary schools and composite (K-12) schools) and are located in high-growth areas, and selected based on socio-economic status, student demographics and classification as a special school. 

The program is administered on behalf of the NSW Government by Catholic Schools NSW and The Association of Independent Schools of NSW as ‘grant authorities’. 

This program is funded and administered by Department of Education.

Eligibility

Grants under the program are to be directed towards non-government schools that:

  • provide primary education (that is, primary schools and composite (K-12) schools)
  • are located in high-growth areas, with consideration of socio-economic status, student demographics and classification as a school for a specific purpose.

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding under the program, a non-government school must:

  • be registered for funding assistance under the Education Act 1990 (NSW) (the Act)
  • not operate on a ‘for profit’ basis within the meaning of section 83C of the Act
  • be affiliated with one of the two grant authorities to the satisfaction of the relevant grant authority
  • either own the land or have a lease on the land and/or buildings for a period commensurate with the period in which the grant may be required to be repaid if the school no longer provides education services.

Eligible non-government schools should submit applications to their relevant grant authority.

Who can’t apply

  • Individuals or groups of individuals
  • Unincorporated organisations
  • For-profit commercial organisations

Types of projects funded under this grant

Eligible non-government schools and non-government school authorities may apply to their grant authority for funding for the planning, construction, alteration, extension, renovation, or upgrading of educational facilities, including:

  • new capital developments to increase preschool enrolments
  • refurbishment of existing facilities to increase preschool enrolments or provide facilities and learning spaces at an acceptable standard.

What can’t you apply for

Applications for projects under the program will not be eligible if 

  • the project has already received partial or full funding
  • or been successful in a grant application for partial or full funding, through another government source including other programs administered by the department, other NSW government departments or agencies, or another grant. 

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What your application needs to include

You can read and download the full guidelines:

The guidelines include information about the eligibility criteria, selection criteria, timing of the grant rounds, application requirements, and process.

Applications should include:

  • the name and details of the non-government school
  • the type of project (new build or upgrade)
  • proposed commencement and expected completion date of the project
  • a brief description of how the project meets the program objectives and details of the facilities to be provided
  • an assessment of how the projects meets the selection criteria
  • the estimated total project costs and the recommended funding to be provided
  • details of the non-government school's capacity to co-contribute 5% towards the estimated total costs of the project.

Eligible non-government schools should submit applications to their relevant grant authority. The grant authorities will provide templates and deadlines for application. 

Start the application

There will be 2 submission rounds each in 2025 and 2026. An additional supplementary grant round was added in August 2025 following changes to the program guidelines.

Eligible non-government schools should submit applications to their relevant grant authority. 

Grant authorities will set and communicate their own deadlines for school applications. Please contact your grant authority for more details.

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Education and Early Learning.

Grant authorities will receive and assess grant applications for funding under the program, and make recommendations to the department for the Minister, in line with the program objectives. 

This will require grant authorities to submit to the department in writing the list of projects recommended for funding, including consideration of the merits of the projects, having regard to the guidelines, reasons for their recommendations, and an analysis of how and why they excluded other grant applications from their list of recommended projects.

The department will provide each grant authority a funding outcome letter, advising of the projects that have been approved or declined by the Minister.

Support and contact

For assistance regarding the application process and requirements of the program, please refer to your relevant grant authority: 

For more general queries, please email the NSW Department of Education at nongovschools@det.nsw.edu.au. Visit the department's website for more details on the Preschools on non-government school sites grant program.

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