This application guide will assist the applicant to complete a Start Strong Capital Works Grant Program application for the Mobile Fund.

As part of the application, the applicant will need to demonstrate they meet the eligibility criteria for the Mobile Fund and address the six assessment criteria as per the Mobile Fund Guidelines.

Start Strong Capital Works grants under the Mobile Fund are awarded following a competitive assessment process. Eligibility to apply for a grant does not guarantee the success of an application.

Mobile Fund: refers to grant funding available under the Start Strong Capital Works Grant Program for the purchase of vehicles for mobile preschools.

Section 1: Eligibility criteria

Refer to Section 3 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

To be eligible for the Mobile Fund, the applicant must be a not-for-profit organisation/ association, or a local government entity.

To meet this requirement, the applicant organisation may be registered on the Australian Charities and not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) Charity Register or may be an incorporated association registered in NSW under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.

If neither of these options apply to the organisation, other evidence may be submitted to substantiate not-for-profit status (e.g. constitutional documents and/or articles of association that demonstrate the not-for-profit character of the organisation).

Section 2: Past performance

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The department will review the applicant’s past performance and assess whether it is likely to have an impact on successful delivery of the project. This will include a review of previous projects funded through the Start Strong Capital Works Grant Program or other grant funding by the department.

Start Strong Capital Works Project: Start Strong Capital Works Project refers to projects that have received grant funding under the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program to undertake capital works to build, renovate or extend facilities to deliver a community preschool, respond to a crisis situation or to purchase a vehicle for a mobile preschool.

Other grant funding: This refers to any other grants funding received from the department through other grant programs available. This may include any grants received under the following programs:

• Community Grants Program

• Disability and Inclusion Program - High Learning Support Needs (HLSN) funding

• Disability and Inclusion Program – Minor Capital Works funding

• Flood Recovery Grants Program

• Ninganah No More Program

• Preschool Disability Support Program (PDSP)

• Quality Learning Environments Program

• Other.

This does not include Start Strong Operational funding, such as Start Strong Free Preschool, Start Strong Preschool, Start Strong Long Day Care, Start Strong Pathways and the 2021 COVID-19 Free Preschool Funding Program.

Section 3: Funding conditions

Refer to Section 5 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must confirm they understand and agree to all funding conditions and obligations that would be in place if they are successful in receiving a Start Strong Capital Works grant offer from the department.

In this regard, the applicant must review the Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions and Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines before submitting an application.

Please refer to Section 5 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines for further information on funding conditions.

Assessment Criteria 1: Capability and capacity for project delivery

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The applicant is asked to demonstrate their capacity and capability to deliver their project within the expected timeframes and within reasonable or tolerable risks. Some of the elements that are assessed under this parameter include:

Project completion

The applicant is asked to confirm that they can complete the project which entails purchasing the vehicle and acquitting funds within 6 months of receiving a successful Outcome Letter.

Project compliance period

The applicant is asked to confirm that the mobile preschool service will be offered for at least a 4-year period after the vehicle is purchased. This 4-year period is known as the compliance period, and is a requirement of the grant.

Stakeholder consultation

The applicant is asked to confirm that they have the appropriate permissions to submit the application and that the need to purchase a replacement or additional vehicle has been discussed with any relevant stakeholders and partners.

Assessment Criteria 2: Maintenance or increase in the proviion of preschool education services

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The broad objective of the Mobile Fund is to support the maintenance and/or increase in the delivery of preschool education to approved venues, through the purchase of replacement and/or additional vehicles in areas of need and demand across the NSW.

The applicant will be asked to justify the need for the replacement vehicle, by describing how the vehicle will support continuity of service delivery and why their current vehicle is no longer fit for purpose.

If the applicant intends to purchase an additional vehicle, they will be asked to identify how it will increase the time spent delivering preschool education to approved venues and the need for expansion.

You may be also asked to provide information on the number of children that attend each venue.

Please refer to the Mobile Fund Guidelines for further information regarding these requirements.

Evidence of Need and Demand

The department will conduct data analysis to assess the need and demand for preschool places in the area the applicant intends to service and will also consider the Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) and Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA). The department will also consider other elements, such as the percentage of not-for-profit services and disadvantaged children in the applicant’s area.

To complement the department’s analysis, applicants are requested to submit evidence to demonstrate need and demand, such as:

• evidence of limited or non-existent access to preschool education in the local area. This can include references to the limited number of centre-based long day care or community preschool services, whether they are currently at capacity and issues regarding access to these services.

• evidence of current and future demand for mobile preschool services in the local area. This can include a waitlist for the service, data showing significant growth in the number of children and families in the area as a result of population growth, new industries or residential development, closure of other early childhood services that were delivering community preschool programs, letters from parents and community feedback, if applicable.

Assessment Criteria 3: Accessibility and inclusion

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The applicant must submit evidence that the new and/or additional vehicle will provide and/or improve the provision of a safe appropriate educational setting for children with disability, children with additional needs and children from low-income families.

This may include a description of the NSW Government Policies regarding diversity and inclusion that the applicant’s service observes, any other internal policies or programs the preschool may have, consultation undertaken with these groups or letters of support from members of this cohort, amongst others.

Assessment Criteria 4: Cultural Safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The applicant must submit evidence that their project will:

1. create and nurture a culturally safe and responsive education setting for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and ECO staff.
   
   Evidence may include any culturally safe and inclusive Aboriginal programs and/or practices observed by the service, existing internal governance or standards that provide clear expectations and guidance to support the service to develop cultural safety, current employment of Aboriginal staff, consultation and feedback sought from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and how this feedback has been incorporated into decision making. The applicant may also provide letters of support from these groups.
   
   
2. increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the mobile preschool service.
   
   Evidence may include any culturally safe and inclusive targeted programs or initiatives the service implements to increase engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and strategies to support and increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in ECE services.

Assessment Criteria 5: Overall completeness and quality of the application

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The applicant should ensure that their application does not have any gaps or inconsistencies in information, and that they have included adequate evidence to support their application.

The applicant should only submit an application once they have compiled all necessary information as further information cannot be added after the application is submitted, unless instructed by the department.

Assessment Criteria 6: Value for money (Budget)

Refer to Section 4 of the Mobile Fund Guidelines

The department will consider the cost of the vehicle and the benefit of the proposed project to determine value for money.

Applicants should ensure they have clearly demonstrated the benefit of the maintained or increased service delivery to the community and obtain two competitive quotes within the last four months to substantiate their budget and demonstrate value for money.

Please note all financial figures must be provided excluding GST throughout the application.