Flying Start Infrastructure Grants
To support the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool, the Government of South Australia launched an infrastructure grants program to invest in additional capacity for preschool. This is a key action outlined in the Preschool Infrastructure Strategy, released in December 2024.
The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program provides co-investment to support building 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.
Round 2 of the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program is now closed and applications are being assessed.
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The Flying Start Infrastructure Grant guidelines outline the process and requirements for applying for a grant. More information is available in the supporting FAQs. The OECD released a Guidance Pack detailing how to undertake an infrastructure project in an early childhood setting.
If your application is successful, you will need to enter into a grant deed with the Government of South Australia.
Is my service eligible?
To be eligible, applicants must be a legal entity, holding an Australian Business Number (ABN), registered for goods and services tax (GST), and be either:
- an approved provider under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National Law) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations); and/or
- the owner of the land on which the facility is or will be located.
Eligible entities include:
- not-for-profit (NFP) organisations that are registered or incorporated in Australia
- South Australian local government entities; and
- South Australian non-government schools that are registered with the Education Standards Board (ESB) and in receipt of state government funding.
What kinds of infrastructure projects can be funded?
The OECD will consider proposals for:
- expansions to existing facilities, which currently provide sessional preschool or preschool as part of a long day care setting; and
- new builds that will offer preschool integrated with long day care.
Eligible projects must:
- be located in an area of unmet demand as per the Market Information Summary (or, if not in an identified area, supported by compelling local evidence)
- create additional places for preschool-aged children
- support a service that is delivering or plans to deliver a funded 3-year-old preschool program; and
- be viable and following the provision of grant funding, be able to be completed and maintained without requiring further financial support from the state government.
Combine grants with a low-interest loan
The South Australian Government has expanded its School Loans Scheme - now known as School and Preschool Loans Scheme - to include not-for-profit early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers, as well as non-government schools.
Low interest loans of between $500,000 and $10 million are available when rounds are open for eligible applicants interested in delivering eligible infrastructure projects.
When rounds are open, eligible applicants may seek a loan:
- to source, in part or in full, their co-contribution to preschool spaces
- to source, in part or in full, the funding required to deliver spaces for children aged under 3 in a long day care facility
- if they are unsuccessful in seeking a Flying Start Infrastructure Grant.
More information is available in the Flying Start Infrastructure Grant guidelines and on the School and Preschool Loans Scheme webpage.
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.
Contact
Policy, Provision and Planning, Infrastructure & Local Planning team