Investing in preschool infrastructure

The Government of South Australia is investing in building infrastructure capacity to support the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool. This is a key action outlined in the Preschool Infrastructure Strategy.

The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program invests $40 million over 4 years to support the building of new or expanded facilities where they are needed. This is to achieve the additional preschool capacity needed for the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool in South Australia.

If you applied for a Flying Start Infrastructure Grant, or are interested in future rounds, you can refer to the resources below for more information:

• Flying Start Infrastructure Grant guidelines
• supporting FAQs
• Guidance Pack. 

Each funding round will have a 2-stage approach, with applicants successful in Stage 1 invited to the more detailed Stage 2.

Stage 1 of Round 1 of the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program is closed. Successful services will be invited to the next application stage in mid-2025.

The 2-stage process gives you assurance before investing in project design, detailed site investigations and seeking development approvals.

The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program is designed to have annual funding rounds, beginning in early 2025, until funding is exhausted.

What kinds of infrastructure projects can be funded?

The OECD will consider co-funding:

• expansions to sessional preschools or long day care services delivering 3-year-old preschool.
• new builds of preschool integrated with long day care.

To be eligible you must:

• be an eligible entity (such as a not-for-profit, South Australian local government, or South Australian non-government school)
• be located in an area of unmet demand as per the Market Information Summary (or have strong local evidence to support your community’s need)
• create more places for preschool children
• deliver or plan to deliver funded 3-year-old preschool
• have a viable project
• be able to cover all project costs above the grant funding you receive. This may include applying for funding under the state government's School and Preschool Loans Scheme.

If successful, you will not be eligible for future infrastructure grants from the OECD for that project.

Combine grants with a low-interest loan

South Australian not-for-profit early childhood services can apply for the School and Preschool Loans Scheme.

Low interest loans of between $500,000 and $10 million are available for eligible applicants interested in delivering eligible infrastructure projects. This funding can be used in conjunction with a service’s Flying Start Infrastructure Grant. Services that were unsuccessful in their grant application can apply for a loan under this scheme.

More information is available in the Flying Start Infrastructure Grant guidelines and on the School and Preschool Loans Scheme webpage.

Key dates

Stage 1 (Round 1) applications closed in May 2025. Successful applicants will be contacted in mid-2025 to move on to Stage 2. The OECD may request you submit further documentation after receiving your application.

Stage 2 – Detailed application timelines

Support for the sector

To support the sector to plan, apply for funding and deliver an infrastructure project, the Flying Start Infrastructure guidance pack has been developed, together with helpful templates, which are available on the Infrastructure supports for providers page.

Additional sector supports will be offered by a referral process, to assist eligible providers to develop grant applications. Read more and complete the questionnaire to check if your organisation is eligible.

Have a question?

If you have a question after reviewing the details on this website and our FAQs, please contact oecd.infrastructure@sa.gov.au