Three grant programs aimed at building the infrastructure and workforce needed for three-year-old preschool have been launched in South Australia.
The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program will invest $40 million across four years to support the not-for-profit sector to deliver expanded or new facilities in areas with projected unmet preschool demand.
The financial investment is designed to support the delivery of the additional preschool capacity needed to roll out three-year-old preschool across the state.
The search for sustainable solutions
There are also grants of up to $100,000 available to develop innovative solutions in regional, rural and hard-to-staff locations, to foster the delivery of three-year-old preschool programs.
One example of how this grant could be used is to develop a shared educator or teacher model, where staff could be shared across multiple sites or retention levels could be increased through further training and professional development.
Applications for the workforce grants close Friday 21 March 2025.
Connecting to success
The Flying Start Professional Network Grants can be used to support the creation or expansion of early childhood workforce networks. These grants range from $37,000 to up to $185,000 across two years. They aim to improve the way childhood developmental vulnerability is addressed, by connecting local early childhood, allied health and community service professionals.
Grants range from:
- up to $37,000 for metropolitan and inner regional networks
- up to $57,000 for outer regional and remote areas
- up to $185,000 for Aboriginal Professional Networks (statewide).
Grant recipients will be equipped to collaborate with other early childhood, allied health and community service professionals to better address child developmental vulnerability and support the delivery of three-year-old preschool.
The grants are part of the $1.9 billion investment in early childhood development, delivering on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
Applications for the infrastructure grants close 2 May 2025.
Early childhood reform
“The Flying Start grants are laying the foundations for the biggest reform to early childhood the state has seen this century,” says SA Education Minister Blair Boyer.
“By applying for these grants, local communities, early childhood professionals and not-for-profit organisations can help shape the future of early childhood education.”
