If your service had higher than expected attendance in 2024 and needs a top-up fee relief payment, you will be able to submit a voluntary data report in early 2025.

For community preschools, reserved fee relief funds will now be returned instead of offset against future payments.

There are no changes for mobile preschools funded under the Mobile Preschool Funding Program.

Why fee relief data is important

Submitted fee relief data enables the department to:

• assess the number of eligible children receiving fee relief at services

• calculate fee relief funding adjustments for services

• evaluate the Start Strong programs.

More information

See the 2025 Start Strong for Community Preschools program guidelines for information about Start Strong for Community Preschool fee relief data reporting.

Information about the 2024 Start Strong for Long Day Care fee relief data reporting and fee relief adjustment process will be available in late January 2025.