Provider frequently asked questions

The early childhood education and care workforce is critical to the delivery of the state’s vision for the early childhood system, but we are experiencing a national shortage of early childhood educators and teachers.

On 21 June 2024, the government released the Early Childhood Workforce Strategy. The strategy contains a suite of initiatives that are designed to address the barriers and challenges contributing to early childhood workforce shortages in South Australia.

By investing in the early childhood workforce, we can ensure we attract and retain the teachers and educators needed to deliver better support to families and universal preschool for 3-year-olds, so that more children are developmentally on track at school entry.

Information regarding opportunities to partner to deliver 3-year-old preschool in future years will be made available in late 2025.

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Funding for non-government 4-year-old preschool programs may continue for a limited time for services not partnering with the OECD in 2026 to be a 3-year-old preschool provider. Over time, the OECD will cease the current non-government 4-year-old funding model. Note that non-government 4-year-old preschool funding at current and new levels is subject to existing Australian Government funding arrangements for preschool programs continuing.

3- and 4-year-old preschool will be contracted under a new Funding Agreement with different funding requirements (see the Policy and Funding Guide).

Services currently delivering 4-year-old preschool that wish to become a 3-year-old preschool provider will need to submit an expression of interest. Information regarding opportunities to partner to deliver 3-year-old preschool in future years will be made available in late 2025.

When you partner with the OECD under the new model, you can elect to deliver a 3- and 4-year-old program, or just a 3-year-old program. For services seeking to deliver both, any existing 4-year-old preschool program funding will move to the new model and funding arrangement.

Yes, there can be mixed-aged programs in services as long as the program is delivered by an early childhood teacher, and services meet staffing ratios under the National Law and Regulations.

The Market Information Summary displays the small regions (Statistical Area 2, SA2s) identified by the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) as requiring additional infrastructure capacity to ensure that all children can access 2 years of preschool by 2032. These are the OECD’s priority areas for infrastructure investment and proposed projects are ideally located within these areas.

For proposed projects located adjacent to, but not within, an SA2 on the Market Information Summary, evidence can be provided that the proposed expansion or new build would service the area of unmet demand. For example, evidence could include historic data of the place of residence of enrolments.

The OECD understands there may be additional areas of local (sub-SA2 level) unmet demand for preschool and will consider grant applications to address these shortfalls.

These applications will need to be supported by compelling evidence. Please contact your OECD Local Team or OECD.Infrastructure@sa.gov.au if you have questions.

Yes, we encourage you to apply. There is no obligation for your project to meet all the unmet demand in your SA2.

When the National Law was introduced, some early childhood services in South Australia were provided an exemption from needing to meet the new indoor space requirements. If they had been required to meet the new space requirements, the number of approved places at the services would have decreased.

These services are known as ‘declared services’ and may be required to meet current legislative requirements if the facility is renovated or expanded. This means that a larger than anticipated expansion might be required to result in a net increase to approved places.

Applicants that wish to expand declared services are eligible for the grants program. Applicants should be aware that costs will be higher than for an equivalent expansion of a service that already meets the current space requirements.

Further information about declared services is available on the Education Standards Board (ESB) website.

In legal terms, an undertaking is a promise. The Flying Start Infrastructure Grant deed will require providers to undertake to deliver a preschool program for 10 years following the completion of the project.

Yes, applicants who don’t currently, but intend to deliver a funded preschool program are eligible to apply.

See more information on the requirements and application process to deliver 3-year-old preschool.

Yes. If you have a current lease agreement or plan to have a lease agreement to occupy the premises for the delivery of the early childhood service, you are eligible to apply.

A copy of your current (or proposed) tenancy agreement and signed consent from your landlord supporting the project is required as part of your application at Stage 1.

A minimum commitment (term) of 10 years is required (for both tenancies and the landowner’s use of the property) to align with the condition to deliver an approved preschool program for a minimum of 10 years following completion of the project.

For tenancies with the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, queries and requests for letters of support can be directed to Education.PropertyServices@sa.gov.au

Further details about the detailed requirements can be found on page 14 of the guidelines.

The OECD recognises that services may have different mixed rooms for preschool-aged children and different configurations throughout the week.

The Government of South Australia will co-contribute up to 50% of project costs related to preschool spaces, which means funding for spaces that are required for the delivery of the funded preschool program.

The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program will also contribute towards the cost of shared areas, such as kitchens or lobby areas (see page 5 of the guidelines). Applicants are required to fully cover the cost of any proposed spaces that are not used for preschool-aged children, such as baby or toddler rooms.

A 50% co-contribution for preschool spaces is standard; however, the OECD may contribute up to 80% of costs related to preschool spaces for community managed not-for-profit providers, where the project is assessed as representing good value for the government’s investment.

The guidelines provide further detail regarding co-contribution requirements.

Yes, for some types of items and activities. Page 7 of the guidelines outlines the types of costs for which successful applicants can receive funding.

The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants contribute to project costs only. The applicant must demonstrate that the project can be delivered and maintained as no additional grant funding will be provided.

The OECD is committed to helping applicants through the grant application and project delivery process. We have developed a comprehensive Guidance Pack stepping out what is required to deliver an infrastructure project.

If your organisation has limited experience and no internal infrastructure team or resourcing, you may be eligible for guidance services. Fill out the questionnaire to check your availability.

Applicants with limited infrastructure experience and resourcing may be eligible for Guidance Services.

These services, provided free of charge by the OECD’s Sector Supports Partner, offer coaching and advice to help applicants navigate each stage of the grant process.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the OECD Infrastructure Team via OECD.Infrastructure@sa.gov.au for further information about this service and eligibility for support.

Applications for Round 1, Stage 1 close 11.59pm on 2 May 2025.  If you are concerned that you will not be able to submit your application on time, please contact  OECD.Infrastructure@sa.gov.auto discuss.