1. Building Early Learning Places Program

The NSW Government is working to ensure that every child, regardless of their family’s postcode, income or circumstances, has access to high-quality preschool so that they can be set up for a life of learning.

The Building Early Learning Places Program (the program), supported by $20 million from the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund (the Fund), aims to help not-for-profit providers in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector create more spaces for children aged 0 to 6 in areas where there is high demand. The broad objective of the program is to increase the accessibility and affordability of ECEC across NSW. The Fund was established under the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund Act 2022, which committed up to $5 billion over the decade to expand access to high quality, affordable childcare, intended to support increased participation in the state’s workforce, particularly for women.

The program will be competitive and targeted, with one round open to eligible centre-based community preschools and long day care centres that plan to deliver ECEC places for priority groups - as identified in these guidelines. This trial will prioritise projects that are ready to start construction, and applicants must show they can start building within 12 months of receiving a successful outcome letter.

Grant funding will be awarded based on the competitive assessment of applications received.

Eligible applicants may be able to access individual support to scope a capital works project and prepare a grant application, as outlined under the Project Development and Planning Support (PDPS) procedure. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) may also be able to access additional support provided by a sector strengthening partner.

1.1. Key dates

Below are indicative dates for key program milestones. The Fund Board reserves the right to adjust these dates and will inform applicants of any proposed changes as soon as practicable.

2. Purpose and objectives

The program’s overarching objectives are to:

• support the accessibility and affordability of ECEC, by assisting not-for-profit community preschools and long day care centres in targeted areas to deliver additional ECEC places through capital works
• increase the number of ECEC places through these capital works projects, leading to accessible, inclusive, and culturally safe environments that attract enrolments from children with disability, children with additional needs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and culturally and linguistically diverse children
• generate insights, evidence and lessons learned to guide future capital initiatives that may be delivered by the Fund Board in the years to come.

In this program, ECEC places refer to licensed places or places per day that are dedicated to enrolments of children aged 0 to 6 years old, in not-for-profit community preschools or long day care centres with a valid service approval.

2.1. Targeted approach

Currently, there is insufficient access to quality ECEC to meet the needs of families, communities, and children in NSW.

To ensure funding from this program goes where it is needed the most, this program will trial a targeted approach. This means that only applicants who plan to provide ECEC places for priority groups as identified in these guidelines will be able to apply.

2.1.1 Priority group: Undersupplied areas

Applicants can apply to deliver ECEC places in undersupplied areas. These areas with the greatest immediate need of ECEC places have been identified considering all the below factors:

1. A supply and demand analysis, primarily informed by the Independent Market Monitoring Review (IMMR).
   
2. Other ongoing capital projects expected to have an impact on supply, including the new 100 public preschools and capital grants previously awarded by the department.
   
3. The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) – areas with high socioeconomic disadvantage have been prioritised.
4. The Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) – consideration was given to regional and remote areas in NSW with limited or no access to ECEC services.
5. The Australia Early Development census (AEDC) – children’s developmental progress across NSW.

Eligible locations and service types are listed in the table below in priority order.

Where a statistical area was identified as having significant need for places for 0 to 2 year old children, and not a significant need for 3 to 6 year old children, only applications from long day care services will be accepted, with projects expected to propose strong proportions of places for 0 to 2 year olds.

For assistance on how to determine whether your Capital Works site is within these targeted SA2 areas, please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application guide.

2.1.3. Priority group: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

The IMMR recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children are more affected by location of ECEC and service availability than other children. It also finds that children are more likely to participate in ECEC where local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are employed.

These findings highlight the benefits of increasing ECEC delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to provide culturally safe services in all areas of NSW.

To achieve this, eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations intending to deliver ECEC places for children 0 to 6 years old children in community preschool or long day care settings, anywhere in NSW, will be able to apply for the Building Early Learning Places Program.

2.2 Project category

Applicants can deliver ECEC places in targeted areas through 3 types of capital projects:

• New builds – opening a new service on vacant land or converting an existing property (which is not an ECEC centre), without closing existing ECEC services managed by the approved provider.
• Extension works – expanding the footprint of existing ECEC service’s site to increase ECEC places.
• Renovation – modifications of an existing ECEC service’s site (without extending the footprint of the building) to increase ECEC places.

Refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application guide for further assistance to determine which project category best applies to your capital works project.

3. How to apply

Applicants are required to complete a detailed application demonstrating how it meets the eligibility and assessment criteria. All sections must be completed, and the application form submitted to be considered for funding. Applicants must refer to the application checklist provided on these guidelines to ensure a complete application is provided. While changes can be made to an application any time until it is submitted, late applications or late documentation will not be accepted, unless explicitly requested by the Fund Board.

Applications must be submitted via SmartyGrants by an authorised officer of the applicant. An authorised officer must either appear as a responsible person on the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) charity register or provide other evidence of authority.

Applicants must register to use the SmartyGrants application system. Registration is a free and straightforward process. For assistance with the online application system, please contact the SmartyGrants support desk by phoning (03) 9320 6888 between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday or email service@smartygrants.com.au.

While preparing a proposal, applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application guide and Application resources for further guidance to prepare a strong proposal.

4. Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:

• be registered or incorporated in Australia
• be a not-for-profit organisation/association or local government entity operating on a cost recovery basis
• be an approved ECEC provider operating at least one existing and open approved service under the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) and Education and Care Service National Regulations (2011)
• intend to deliver ECEC places for a priority group as identified in these program guidelines:
  • deliver eligible ECEC places in an identified undersupplied area (excluding on public school sites and non-government school sites), or
  • for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, deliver eligible and culturally supportive ECEC places anywhere in NSW (excluding on public schools and non-government school sites)
• hold, or intend to hold service approval for the capital works site under the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW) to:
  • operate, or intend to operate, as a centre-based service with a ‘Nature of Care’ service type of preschool, or
  • operate, or intend to operate, as a centre-based service with a ‘Nature of Care’ service type of long day care.

For-profit organisations are not eligible to apply for the program.

Out of school hours care (OSHC) and non-centre-based service types, such as family day care services and mobile services, are not eligible for funding under the program.

Only applications from eligible applicants will progress to assessment against the assessment criteria.

4.1. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations

Eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) operating or intending to operate a community preschool or not-for-profit long day care centre, and delivering additional ECEC places anywhere in NSW are strongly encouraged to apply. Proposals that deliver culturally safe learning settings in any area across NSW will be highly regarded (see 5.1. Assessment Approach) and exemptions on the required levels of non-Board contributions will be considered for ACCOs (see 5.2. Funding level).

For the purposes of this program, an Aboriginal organisation is required to meet each of the following criteria to be considered an ACCO:

• The organisation is incorporated under relevant legislation and is not-for-profit.
• The organisation is controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• The organisation is connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services.
  
• The organisation is governed by a majority of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander governing body.

These criteria are based on Clause 44 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

5. Assessment

Applications will be competitively assessed against the assessment criteria in these guidelines, specifically the overarching program objectives in section 2. Grants will be awarded to highest ranked applications in accordance with the assessment approach, until funds are exhausted for applications received by the closing date.

During the assessment process, the Fund Board may request additional information from applicants. In addition, the Fund Board, in its absolute discretion, may request information from the ECEC Regulatory Authority, NSW Department of Education, or others to assist with the assessment.

The statutory entity established by the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund Act 2022, the Fund Board, will decide on funding for this program and have the final say on grant awards and payments.

It is important to know that submitting an application does not guarantee getting the full funding requested. The Fund Board can decide not to fund or to partially fund an application.

5.1. Assessment approach

All applications received before the clsoing date will be assessed for completeness and ensure the application meets eligibility requirements stated in Section 4.

Eligible applications will be competitively assessed by an Assessment Panel through a 3-stage evaluation process.

First, the Assessment Panel will review applicants against non-priced assessment criteria. Those that meet these criteria will then be assessed based on the priced assessment criteria. Finally, applications will be ranked based on their overall assessment score from the non-priced and priced criteria.

Stage 1: Non-priced assessment criteria

1. Project readiness: demonstrating the project is ready to commence construction within 12 months of grant award. To determine this, the following sub-criteria will be considered:

• Access to land – Applicant provides evidence to confirm ownership of land subject to the capital works, a ten-year lease or appropriate land arrangement for ten years.
• Development approval and regulatory compliance – Applicant demonstrates the capital works project has received DA approval, or readiness to submit a DA application, and compliance with regulatory requirements imposed by other NSW Government departments and agencies, the ECEC Regulatory Authority, Local Government, the Australian Building Codes Board, and any other relevant parties. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with ECEC regulations to obtain the proposed increase in places.
• Project plan and timeline – Applicant has a well scoped and detailed project plan and timeline that demonstrates the capital works project can commence construction within 12 months of outcome notification.

2. Financial readiness: demonstrating accurate cost estimates and enough confirmed funding to cover all project costs if the grant is awarded. This includes considering the following factors:

• Budget development and feasibility – Applicant has developed a detailed budget, considered all reasonable expenses related to the capital works (including administrative costs, professional services, project management and contingency, among others) and is proposing an adequate layout for an ECEC centre.
• Budget basis – Applicant has provided reliable project estimates and supporting documents to substantiate total project costs.
• Non-Board contributions – Applicant meets the minimum required non-Board contributions (unless exempt) and provides evidence to confirm access to these contributions.

3. Socio-economic value: How much benefit the project creates for children, families and the state’s economy through the capital works. This includes considering the following factors:

• Increase in ECEC places – how the project will create extra spaces for children aged 0 to 6 in priority groups. This includes ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for children with additional needs, low-income families, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
• Suitability of ECEC places created – how well the new spaces meet the needs of the community, including the number of spaces and how they will be allocated among different age groups based on community needs.
• Plan to attract enrolments – how the proposed capital works will attract enrolments to fill the places created by the project, including from children with additional needs, low-income families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and consider strategic workforce planning initiatives (recruitment of suitable staff) to cater for these increased enrolments.
• Support workforce participation – how the capital works project will help parents and caregivers participate in the workforce by providing places that meets their family's needs.

If your application does not meet the minimum requirements of each non-priced assessment sub-criteria, your application will not proceed to the priced-criteria assessment and overall ranking.

For further assistance on how to demonstrate that your project meets the assessment criteria, please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application guide.

Stage 2: Priced assessment criteria

Following the non-priced assessment criteria, the Assessment Panel will assess suitable applicants against the priced assessment criteria, which considers the cost per place of the proposed capital works project.

The cost per place is calculated by dividing the grant amount requested (ex GST) by proposed licensed places to be created.

Stage 3: Overall ranking

Once stage 1 and 2 are completed, the Assessment Panel will rank applications based on the results of their assessment against both the non-priced and priced assessment criteria.

The Assessment Panel will provide the overall ranking and preliminary recommendation to the Fund Board for final decision-making. The Fund Board is the final decision-maker, and, in all circumstances, the Fund Board’s decision is final.

5.2. Funding level

A total of $20 million from the Fund has been made available for the program. This includes grant funding, program administration and evaluation costs. The program offers uncapped grant awards, noting the amount requested will be assessed as part of priced assessment criteria and competitively against all applicants received.

A minimum level of non-Board contribution is required unless the applicant is provided with an exemption (to be requested through the application process).

5.2.1. Non-Board contribution

In this program, non-Board contribution refers to funding that comes from sources other than the program grant amount or any other funding provided by the Fund Board. Examples of non-Board contributions include funds from the approved provider, bank loans, and contributions made by third parties (e.g. other state, federal or local government grants, donations from private or public organisations, or in-kind services).

Applicants are required to contribute a minimum amount of non-Board funding depending on the size of the approved provider, determined by the number of services they operate prior to applying to the program. Applicants must be an approved provider operating at least one existing approved service that is currently open. These non-Board funds are required to be spent prior to the release of first milestone payment in line with the program’s Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (PDF 410 KB).

For the purposes of this program the following table outlines the minimum level of non-Board contributions:

* The non-Board contribution(s) nominated should only fund eligible items under the program. Applicants are required to nominate funding in addition to the non-Board contribution in order to fund any ineligible items that may be part of the capital works project. Please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application Guide for examples.

Please note provider sizes have been established following careful assessment of data and trends for the market segment targeted by the program and with the objective of determining a classification that is fit for the intended purpose.

Applicants are encouraged to contribute more than the required minimum level if possible, to improve the competitiveness of their application.

Where an applicant is unable to meet the minimum expected non-Board contribution, they may apply for an exemption as part of the application process. There will be an opportunity to outline why the applicant should be exempted from the minimum non-Board contribution, provide evidence and nominate the alternative amount they are able to contribute, which should be as close to the threshold as possible.

While all applicants can apply for an exemption, these may be considered particularly for services located in remote NSW, for ACCOs or recovering from a natural disaster.

For further assistance on non-Board contributions, please refer to the Building Early Learning Places Program Application guide.

5.3. Due diligence checks

As part of the assessment process the department will undertake a due diligence check in addition to the assessment of applications against non-priced and priced criteria and the ranking of applications. The Fund Board reserves the right to consider information about the applicant that it learns during its usual activities and use that information when evaluating eligible applications. This includes details about an applicant’s past performance, financial viability and reporting on ACNC, and regulatory performance and compliance history related to their provider approval and any associated service approval/s (both current and historical). Applicants are required to provide consent for these checks as part of the application process.

These due diligence checks will evaluate how likely it is that they will affect the successful completion of the applicant's project. This may include considering whether the applicant has:

• taken appropriate steps to deliver previous projects funded through the department within appropriate timeframes (where applicable)
• overdue projects funded by the department and whether extensions have been requested and approved and/or
• completed projects funded by the department and whether the applicant has submitted all documentation required to acquit the grant funding, including regular monthly reporting and acquittal within the contracted timeframe
• completed projects funded by the department and whether the applicant has maintained the 10 year compliance period
• the tenure of an organisation and their experience in managing ECEC services
• strong record of compliance historically under their Service Approval.

Poor performance against these factors may result in projects not being recommended for funding or funding withdrawal throughout the project cycle.

6. What can and cannot be funded?

The program will not fund projects that:

• are located on a NSW public school site or non-government school site
• do not create additional licensed ECEC places for children aged 0 to 6 years old
• are for services located outside NSW
• are submitted by a for-profit organisation or association, including a sole trader or a Pty Ltd company
• do not align with the program objectives
• do not meet the requirements outlined in these guidelines
• do not meet the assessment criteria
• have, at the time of assessment of the application, been completed (i.e. retrospective funding)
• are existing capital works that have already been fully funded by other capital grants or funding source (including previous capital works grants or projects delivered by the department, the Fund Board and other agencies). To be clear, places committed and already supported by any other funding source cannot be funded twice. However, you can request funding from different grant programs to cover the toatl cost of your project. More information about this can be found in the application guide, or
• duplicate project elements already funded through another source (i.e. where another grant is funding the same element/s).

There are items that you can and cannot include in project cost estimates in your application. The items that cannot be funded by the grant must be covered by the service provider or other sources of funding.

6.1. What can be funded by the grant

• Project management costs.
• Planning and design costs.
• Contingency costs for capital works project within value for money tolerances and included in the endorsed proposal (to be disbursed only if needed).
• Soil hygienist reports.
• Removal of contaminates on project sites (e.g. asbestos/arsenic).
• Site preparation, including clearing or demolition.
• Construction and commissioning.
• Landscaping and car parking.
• Fixed fittings and fixed equipment.
• Elements of the build that enhance quality and best practice related to inclusion and cultural safety.

6.2. What cannot be funded by the grant

• Site acquisition and lease costs.
• Routine or cyclical maintenance works.
• Purchase of cars, buses and other vehicles.
• Ongoing administration or operational costs.
• Staff salaries and training.
• Toys, portable equipment and consumables.
• Cosmetic upgrades that do not increase capacity.
• Additional funding due to project cost overruns or unforeseen expenses.
• Playground equipment (unless strictly required for the purposes of obtaining service approval).
• Quality and aesthetic improvements and upgrades that do not lead to an increase in ECEC places or are not required for the purposes of obtaining service approval for the target number of places.

7. Funding conditions

Applicants must review the Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (PDF 410 KB) and Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines before submitting an application. These documents explain what successful applicants must do after receiving funding under the program.

All projects must adhere to relevant building codes, guidelines and regulations. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure and demonstrate that they comply with these rules.

The assessment or endorsement of an application under this program does not guarantee compliance or influence any approval processes the applicant needs for their project, including but not limited to approval from the relevant Council, the ECEC Regulatory Authority, or any other relevant authority.

Applicants that receive grant funding must:

• agree to the requirements outlined in these guidelines. Failure to do so may result in funding being withheld or an offer of funding being withdrawn
• contribute the required minimum level of non-Board contribution as per these guidelines (unless an exemption is approved) and agree to spend these non-Board funds prior to claiming grant funding
• enter into a Funding Agreement with the Fund Board
• follow the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines for NSW Government infrastructure grants, including liaising with the Sector Growth team on events such as openings, and erecting signage for projects
• submit progress reports and required supporting evidence for approval by the Fund Board or its authorised delegate upon completion of agreed milestones and completion of the project in accordance with the Funding Agreement
• acknowledge that no additional funding will be allocated by the Fund Board to the capital works project, including where there are cost overruns, and if additional costs arise, they will be met by the applicant
• Operate the approved service offering the ECEC places funded by the grant to the community for at least 10 years following the completion of the capital works, under the nature of care endorsed in the proposal.

Applicants should not enter into a contract or commence any works proposed in an application until a Funding Agreement has been executed. Applicants who are offered a grant and proceed with works prior to executing the Funding Agreement do so at their own risk. The department may not fund projects that have commenced before the Funding Agreement has been executed and will not fund completed projects.

Please note that grants are awarded through a competitive process under the program. Any variations to the scope of the grant award will need to be reviewed and approved by the Fund Board or authorised delegate to maintain integrity of the program. If there is a variation to your grant award, you must notify the department immediately.

From time to time, the department may request details regarding the status of the Provider/Service approval, approved/licensed places, enrolments and attendance, amongst other variables, to ensure compliance with the obligations outlined under the Funding Agreement.

8. Project management requirements

A suitable project manager must be identified in the application and appointed within 4 weeks of the Funding Agreement execution.

The name and contact details (email, telephone number, including mobile) of the proposed project manager must be included in the application (if known) and confirmed in the Funding Agreement.

For applications with a total project cost of $500,000 ex GST or above, applicants must provide evidence of their project manager’s qualifications and experience in the management of major infrastructure projects. Project management costs should be included in the applicant’s budget as part of the grant application, unless the organisation already has a construction project manager with adequate skills and availability within their staff.

Failure to follow these requirements regarding a project manager could ultimately result in the Fund Board withdrawing the funding commitment.

9. Project reporting requirements

As a condition of grant funding, successful applicants must comply with project monitoring and reporting requirements, including:

• submitting milestone progress reports and required evidence when milestones have been met. Payments will not be released without a satisfactory milestone report
• advising the department in advance of key milestones including architect appointment, design completion, ground breaking, construction completion, service approval and providing opportunities for public communication of these milestones
• advising the department of any proposed project changes (relating to time, cost and project scope) by informing the department in writing. Any changes must be assessed and approved by the department
• attending site inspections, meetings and teleconferences with department staff or representatives if required
• providing copies of building contracts, receipts and/or invoices when requested
• submitting a Final Works Report with relevant evidence on the completion of the works (e.g. certificate of occupancy, service approval notification, final expenditure, photos)
• following acquittal processes as indicated by the Fund Board.

10. Project completion

Successful applicants are required to comply with the below timeframes:

• The Funding Agreement must be signed by an authorised officer of the applicant and returned to the department no later than 4 weeks after receipt.
• Construction works must start within 12 months of receipt of a successful Outcome Letter.
• Capital Works projects must be completed and acquitted within 24 months of receipt of a successful Outcome Letter.

Applicant’s capacity to meet the above timeframes will be assessed in the non-priced assessment criteria and shovel ready projects will be prioritised.

Applicants who are concerned about meeting the project timeframes can contact the Sector Growth Team on capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au or 1800 619 113 (toll free) prior to submitting their application to discuss their project timeline.

The Fund Board may review the timeline if there are exceptional circumstances, as long as it doesn't make the process unfair. However, grant recipients should be aware that timeline extensions might not be allowed, and significant delays could lead to the department suggesting to the Fund Board to withdraw the funding commitment.

11. Program evaluation

After the completion of the program, the Fund Board will evaluate how well the program met its objectives and look for ways to improve future capital investment. This will happen in 2 stages after the program closes.

The first stage will consider the program’s design and processes to identify areas of improvement. Performance measures include effectiveness of project planning and development support, communication and engagement strategy, the assessment criteria and streamlined program features.

The second stage will start after the projects are complete to evaluate the long-term outcomes and benefit of the program. Performance measures include ECEC places created, enrolments, sector and community feedback and supply and demand data.

12. Service approvals

To acquit final milestone payment for grants provided under the program, the approved provider is required to provide evidence that they have obtained, or at least applied for service approval and/or amendment to service approval for the new licensed ECEC places created following project completion.

If the service approval and/or service approval amendment have not yet been granted by the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority when claiming the final milestone payment, approved providers are required to promptly take all necessary steps to reach a satisfactory outcome on their application and offer the new licensed ECEC places to the community. This may include the submission of requested documents within designated timeframes.

For further information on the Approvals Process please visit the Service approval or contact the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority on 1800 619 113 (toll free) or by emailing ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.

13. Application checklist

Applicants will be required to provide evidence with their application, including:

• Evidence of provider approval and not-for-profit status.
• A detailed project plan, risk assessment for the project and expected delivery timeline.
• A project description.
• An itemised project budget outlining the total project cost, income and expenses. Income sources must include, as a minimum, the grant amount requested and the relevant minimum non-Board contribution(s) (unless exempt). The budget should demonstrate that the income can cover all expenses without any shortfalls.
• Information and evidence of minimum non-Board sources of funding and proof of funds for these contributions.
• Evidence and rationale as to why an exemption to the non-Board contribution is required, if applicable
• At least 1 Quantity Surveyor estimate and 2 builder’s quotes obtained in the past 4 months and valid at the time of submission that reflect the final design of the capital works project.
• Evidence on how the project will deliver socioeconomic benefits to the local community, including:
  • Evidence on how the project will increase ECEC places for all children between 0 to 6 years old and create a safe and inclusive education setting for children with additional needs, low-income families, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
  • Evidence on how the service plans to attract enrolments to fill the funded places, including from children with additional needs, low-income families, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
  • Evidence on how the project will support workforce participation for parents or carers through the delivery of ECEC places.
• Evidence on readiness to proceed with the proposed project on the site including, but not limited to:
  • Confirmation of the number of ECEC places that will be created with the final design of the capital works project.
  • Professional plans and unencumbered space calculations prepared by a licensed building practitioner supporting the proposed increase in licensed ECEC places.
  • A description and evidence on how the proposed project meets all required regulations, including to achieve the intended increase in places, obtain service approval, obtain DA approval, etc. Please consider any grandfathering arrangements that might be impacted by undertaking capital works with your Local Council, Regulatory Authority and any other relevant parties.
  • Evidence the applicant owns the site or has formal lease or alternate leasing agreements with the owner of the site for a minimum ten-year period.
  • Evidence the applicant has support from all affected stakeholders and delivery partners (your landlord, Council, committee/the board, other funding bodies, etc).
  • Evidence the applicant has received DA Approval, is preparing to submit a DA or has considered how to comply with all the requirements associated to obtaining DA approval.
  • Evidence the applicant has engaged or is planning to engage a suitable project manager to deliver the capital works project.

14. Contact details

The Fund Board is committed to ensuring positive customer experience.

For more information about the program please contact the Early Childhood Education Programs Directorate by phone or email.

• Phone: 1800 619 113 (Toll Free)
• Email: capital.works@det.nsw.edu.au

Applicants who have feedback, suggestions or complaints about the application and assessment process may also contact us through the above channels. Alternatively, you may submit any feedback by completing the Department of Education Complaint, compliment or suggestion form.