Flying Start grants frequently asked questions
The frequently asked questions on this page provide information for people interested in applying for a Flying Start grant.
Flying Start Workforce Grants Round 3
All applications must involve an applicant and a separate partner organisation. The applicant or partner organisation must be:
- an approved early learning provider
- currently operating within South Australia
- employing a degree-qualified early childhood teacher or person with a Special Authority to Teach.
Half or more of the services listed in the application must be from an outer-regional, remote or very remote area, or an area with a Socio-Economic Indexes for Area (SEIFA) Decile of 1 or 2. Applications that will only support a single ECEC service or a single ECEC approved provider will only be funded where there is evidence of substantial local needs or in extenuating circumstances.
Registered training organisations can apply if they have a Funded Activities Agreement with Skills SA and will be offering in-person early childhood training in outer-regional, remote or very-remote locations of South Australia.
There are specific criteria outlining what is in and out of scope for funding. Grant applicants should consider the unique needs of their community, and how best the funding can be applied to new workforce attraction and retention initiatives.
Examples of activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- delivery of training and professional development to increase staff retention
- implementation of workforce attraction activities
- initiatives to attract and/or retain staff from diverse cohorts
- delivery of in-person early childhood training in regional, remote or outer-remote areas.
Activities that are not eligible for funding under the program include but are not limited to:
- business as usual and compliance activities
- programs that are already funded through other sources
- initiatives that are eligible for funding through other existing OECD programs such as QualifySA
- capital works or infrastructure projects.
Reasons for which a location may be considered hard-to-staff are outlined in the grant guidelines. Examples of hard-to-staff locations may include:
- a service (or services) that has trouble retaining staff due to the complex needs and vulnerabilities of the children in their care, and their families
- an area with a low SEIFA rating (Decile 1 or 2)
- early childhood services with under-utilised approved places due to workforce barriers
- a service operating with consecutive waivers due to limited staffing.
Yes, you can still apply. Flying Start Workforce Grants are open to eligible applicants that address their respective community’s unique needs and show how their initiatives will attract and retain an early childhood workforce.
Applications that will only support a single ECEC service or a single ECEC approved provider will only be funded where there is evidence of substantial local needs or in extenuating circumstances.
However, all applications must include a partner organisation that is different from the applicant organisation.
A partner organisation could be an early childhood service in your broader region. Or, the partner could be a different type of organisation in your region, such as:
- a local government authority
- a regional development area committee
- a community support organisation; or
- a Registered Training Organisation.
Single service or single approved provider applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Workforce Grants team to discuss their induvial circumstances prior to applying. Send us an email on OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au.
Any individual, organisation, or partnership that meets the eligibility criteria can submit an application. The lead applicant will be responsible for receiving and managing funds, and for the grant reporting and acquittal process.
No. The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the grant guidelines but does not need to be partnered with the OECD to deliver 3-year-old preschool.
Once you have received your outcome notification, a member of our team will contact you to discuss the next steps. We will run through the grant funding agreement, confirm the final description of the initiatives to be funded under the grant, and discuss key activities and milestones. This will ensure you understand the reporting requirements and feel comfortable moving forward.
The payment schedule will be determined based on the type of organisation being funded, and it will be subject to meeting all the conditions outlined in the program guidelines and funding agreement.
Any activities proposed in your application must be completed within 12 months.
If you cannot find the answer to your question in the Flying Start Workforce Grants Guidelines or listed here, you can contact the OECD at OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au.
Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants
Approved early childhood providers are eligible if they meet the following requirements:
- employ Aboriginal staff within their service; or
- have Aboriginal children enrolled at their service; or
- have a high proportion of Aboriginal people within their Community.
Read the Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants Guidelines.
There are specific criteria outlining what is in and out of scope for funding. Grant applicants should consider the unique needs of their community, and how best the funding can be used to embed Aboriginal cultural safety in their setting and support their Aboriginal staff to develop professionally.
Some examples of eligible activities are:
- remuneration of Aboriginal peoples’ engagement and time for sharing their lived experience and wisdom
- purchasing of resources and equipment to support Aboriginal cultural safety for staff and families in services
- development of, or purchase of a training/professional development program, facilitator and backfill costs for participants accessing the professional development
- contribution to salary and on-costs for staff responsible for implementing the initiative.
Read the Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants Guidelines.
Some examples of ineligible activities are:
- business-as-usual and compliance activities
- activities already funded through other sources
- activities or initiatives that could be funded through an alternative OECD program (QualifySA in Early Childhood, Preschool Boost or the Flying Start Pathways Program)
- mandatory professional learning
- purchase of prizes, gifts, individual relocation costs or incentive payments
- capital works or infrastructure.
Read the Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants Guidelines.
No, however you must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the grant guidelines.
Read the Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants Guidelines.
If you cannot find the answer to your question in the Flying Start Aboriginal Workforce Grants Guidelines or listed here, you can contact the OECD at OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au.
Help with lodging an application
Applications should be lodged as soon as they are complete. The grant programs will remain open until funding its expended, delaying submission could mean your organisation misses out.
Yes. You can save your progress on the online grant application portal, SmartyGrants.
Read the SmartyGrants Help Guide and Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information on SmartyGrants.
The SmartyGrants Support Desk is available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Call (03) 9320 6888 or email service@smartygrants.com.au.
Didn’t find the answer to your question?
We’re here to help. Contact us via email: OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au