Preschool Boost for early childhood services
Supporting partner services to boost children’s outcomes
Preschool Boost is a funding program designed to help Flying Start partner services to do more to address developmental vulnerability and improve outcomes for 3- and 4-year-old children, their families and communities.
Find programs and supports for your service on the Preschool Boost menu
As a partner service, you can use Preschool Boost funding to purchase a range of evidence informed programs and supports including group-based child interventions, educator training, leadership, mentoring, and family programs.
This online directory allows you to filter available supports by:
- Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) domain
- delivery region and mode
- support category
- program type and cost.
Begin your search by using the primary AEDC domain filter to find supports aligned to your service’s focus, as identified in your Preschool Boost plan.
Add chosen programs to your Preschool Boost plan and seek approval of your plan from your OECD Local Team before you purchase. All menu prices exclude GST.
Preschool Boost explained
Watch the Preschool Boost video to hear more about the menu of high-quality, evidence-informed supports and programs.
Using the menu
Download the menu catalogue (PDF).
Download the Preschool Boost menu fact sheet (PDF).
Every Flying Start partner service receives Preschool Boost funding. Amounts vary by Socio-Economic Index data and previous year enrolments.
Find the 2026 funding rates in the Policy and Funding Guide.
Preschool Boost planning cycle
This timeline provides a high-level overview of the Preschool Boost cycle.
- August
- Flying Start partner services are advised of their Preschool Boost funding allocation by the Office for Early Childhood
- August - November
- Services plan how they will use their Preschool Boost funding with support from their OECD Local Team.
- Plans may be submitted for approval any time between August and November.
- November
- All services must submit their completed Preschool Boost Plan to their OECD Local Team for approval by 1st November.
- Once approved, services can begin booking their selected supports.
- January
- Quarter 1 payments are made to partner services. This includes the full annual Preschool Boost funding allocation.
- January - November
- Services receive the supports outlined in their approved plan.
- June-July
- Mid-year plan check-in with OECD Local Teams.
- November
- Services submit their annual OECD report and required Preschool Boost program reporting.
Preschool Boost planning process
Open the menu items below for a brief overview on the Preschool Boost planning process.
You will need to create a Preschool Boost plan before spending your Preschool Boost funding. Use AEDC data, other local community insights and your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to show how funds will improve outcomes for children.
A Preschool Boost planning placemat (PDF) has been created to support you and your team discuss what your service priorities are, and which supports might be the best fit.
Download the Preschool Boost plan fact sheet.
The window for Preschool Boost plan creation: August to November
Rolling approval: Your Local Teams’ representative will approve your plan within 3 weeks of submission.
Local Teams will:
- help develop plans, including through in-person or online meetings
- support you to use AEDC and local data
- assist in shortlisting programs
- shape outcome-focused plans
- review, approve and amend plans
- provide a mid-year check-in and general support.
Visit the Local Teams page to find your region.
Australian Early Development Census
AEDC data highlights both strengths and vulnerabilities in children across your community. It can help you identify priority areas and select the programs and supports from the Preschool Boost menu that best meet the needs of your service.
Download the Preschool Boost and AEDC fact sheet (PDF).
Quality Improvement Plan
Use your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to:
- link AEDC focus domains to the National Quality Standards (NQS)
- identify quality improvement strategies
- select relevant menu supports.
Most needs can be met with the Preschool Boost menu. If a suitable option is not available in your region, is at capacity or isn’t affordable, partner services can use up to 20% of the Preschool Boost funding for off-menu items.
Other eligible uses include:
- topping up hours for existing part time allied health professionals employed by the partner service
- purchasing programs that are locally innovative or part of site-based research projects contributing to the evidence base for inclusion on the Preschool Boost menu
- exceptional circumstances, for other purposes where a written request has been made and authorised in writing by the OECD.
Read the off-menu process (PDF) for eligibility and approval steps.
Submit the off-menu application form (PDF) to your OECD Local Team before you add the cost to your plan.
Email OECD.PreschoolBoost@sa.gov.au for the relevant forms for regional accessibility requests, extraordinary requests, or to request to exceed the 20% off-menu funding cap within your Preschool Boost plan.
Ensuring child safe environments
Under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, services are legally required to ensure child safe environments.
This includes verifying that all individuals working with children, including Preschool Boost suppliers, hold a valid and current Working with Children Check (WWCC), are aware of their responsibilities under the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and of relevant service code of conducts and policies and procedures that contribute to a child safe environment, including the use of digital devices.
In addition, Preschool Boost suppliers must not be left alone with children and must always be supervised by service staff.
Core training your service must take part in
Core training supports all partner services to strengthen their capability in trauma-informed practice and Aboriginal Cultural Safety. Training is tailored to service type and context. Participation is mandatory for key staff, and strongly recommended for all staff.
The OECD will fund access to core training for Flying Start partner services, including delivery costs and backfill contributions for participants required to undertake the training. Preschool Boost funding can be used to purchase additional training modules from the Preschool Boost menu.
Refer to the Policy and Funding Guide and your Preschool Boost plan for more information.
Arrangements for Department for Education preschools will be confirmed separately.
Trauma-informed practice
This training builds shared understanding and practical strategies to support children who have experienced stress or trauma. It will be available online from March 2026. The OECD will fund access and provide a backfill contribution. It is compulsory for key staff and strongly recommended for all staff.
Additional supports:
- The OECD will offer free coaching to Preschool Plus services to support trauma-informed implementation. The OECD will contact eligible services from March 2026.
- Integrated hubs will have free access to deeper, place-based training and intensive coaching tailored to their local needs.
Aboriginal Cultural Safety
In-person foundational training will start from January 2026. The OECD will fund delivery and provide a backfill contribution to services. This training is compulsory for key staff and strongly recommended for all staff. An online version will follow.
Additional supports:
Integrated hubs will have free access to deep training, with backfill co-contribution. The OECD will contact eligible services.
The OECD has 3 tiers of Aboriginal Cultural Safety training. Services can purchase these from the Preschool Boost menu in addition to the core training. Read more on our web page about Aboriginal Cultural Safety.
Menu suppliers
Find out more about being a Preschool Boost menu supplier on our Preschool Boost Suppliers page.
Registrations of interest for suppliers to join the Preschool Boost menu are currently closed.
Future procurement opportunities will be communicated via the Office for Early Childhood Development newsletter.
Have a question?
Contact the Preschool Boost team on OECD.PreschoolBoost@sa.gov.au