The Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program improves access to preschool by creating additional preschool places in areas of need and demand across the state.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Grant amount is variable based on the project proposed and value for money.
- Application opened: 4 October 2022
- Application closed: 30 June 2023, 12:00 am
Program objective
- Maximise the number of preschool places available for preschool-aged children to attend at least 600 hours per year or 15 hours per week of quality preschool education.
- Ensure the continued operation of the service to deliver preschool places throughout the ten-year compliance period.
- Support ongoing management of the service in line with applicable regulatory requirements.
- Where possible, leverage funds from sources external to the department, including private finance, charitable donations and grants from other state and federal government agencies.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Education.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet each of the following:
- be registered or incorporated in Australia; and
- be a not-for-profit organisation/association, or a local government entity; and
- operate, or intend to operate, an education and care service in NSW that delivers preschool education, as an Approved provider with a valid Service Approval.
For applicants applying under the Crisis Fund of the 2022-23 Start Strong Capital Works Program, applicants must also meet one of the crisis scenario outlined in the Program Guidelines to be eligible for the program.
Service Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, the Approved Provider’s service must:
- deliver, or intend to deliver, an early childhood education program to preschool-aged children, for at least 600 hours per year, that is designed by a degree qualified early childhood teacher, in accordance with The Early Years Learning Framework; and
- have, or intend to have, a service approval to operate in NSW under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and either:
- operate, or intend to operate, as a centre-based service with a ‘Nature of Care’ service type of preschool, or
- operate, or intend to operate, as a centre-based service with a ‘Nature of Care’ service type of long day care.
Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) and non-centre-based service types, such as family day care services, are not eligible for funding under the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program.
Who can’t apply
- For-profit organisations
Types of projects funded under this grant
- New Build: Capital works project that involves construction of a new centre based long day care or community preschool service building from scratch. This includes any existing long day care or community preschool centres to be demolished and replaced by a new building on an existing capital works address.
- Expansion: Capital works project that involves any structural changes to an existing centre based long day care or community preschool service that increase the current footprint of the building.
- Renovations: Capital works project that involves the modification of an existing centre based long day care or community preschool service building, such as removing internal walls or refurbishments. A renovation does not increase the existing footprint of the building.
Elements not funded by the grant
Project elements that cannot be funded under the program:
- site acquisition and lease costs
- routine or cyclical maintenance works
- spaces not used primarily for the delivery of a preschool education program (e.g. rooms for community or health services, or rooms/outdoor areas for provision of care for nursery or toddler age groups)
- ongoing administration or operational costs
- staff salaries and training
- toys, portable equipment and consumables
- cosmetic upgrades that do not increase capacity
- purchase of cars, buses and other vehicles
- additional funding due to project cost overruns
- playground equipment (unless strictly required for the purposes of obtaining service approval)
- quality improvements an grades that do not lead to an increase in preschool places or are not required for the purposes of obtaining service approval for the target number of places.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Application checklist
- Evidence of provider approval or a copy of an application to the regulatory authority.
- A detailed project plan, risk assessment for the project and expected timeline.
- A project description, including concept/ building design plans and final scope of works.
- An itemised project budget, including the applicant’s contribution of a minimum of 5% of the total project cost and additional sources of funding for the project (if any).
- At least 2 quotes obtained in the past 4 months that reflect the final design of the capital works project. Applicants should contact the department if they are unable to obtain 2 quotes. In exceptional circumstances this requirement may be waived.
- Confirmation of the number of preschool places that will be created with the final design of the capital works project.
- A description and evidence demonstrating how the number of places to be increased has been estimated in line with regulatory requirements (e.g. floor plans referencing floor space ratios).
- A description and evidence detailing how the proposed project will create and nurture a culturally safe and responsive educational setting for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and ECE staff.
- A description and evidence detailing how the proposed project will provide and/or improve the provision of an appropriate educational setting for children with disability, children with additional needs, and children from low-income families.
- Evidence of ability to proceed with the proposed project on the site including, but not limited to:
- evidence the applicant owns the site or has formal lease or alternate leasing agreements with the owner of the site for a minimum ten-year period.
- evidence the applicant has discussed the security instrument requirement as a precondition for funding with all relevant parties (your committee/board, landlord, lessor, or SINSW as applicable).
- evidence the applicant has support from all affected stakeholders and delivery partners (your landlord, Council, committee/board, other funding bodies, etc).
- information and evidence of other sources of funding, if any, and proof of funds for your contribution.
- Evidence that there is need an demand in your area.
After the application is submitted
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Support and contact
For more information about the Start Strong Capital Works Grant Program please contact the Early Childhood Education Programs Directorate by phone or email.
Ph: 1800 619 113 (Toll Free)
Email: capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au
Applicants may request detailed feedback on the outcomes of their application.
Applicants who have complaints about any aspect of the application and assessment process may submit their issue in writing at capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au.