1. Overview

The program is available under the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity (CEO) Fund. The CEO Fund’s principal objective is to increase participation in the State’s workforce, particularly for women, through addressing the challenges related to access and affordability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services for NSW families.

The ECEC Research Program will provide evidence to support the principal objective and aims of the CEO Fund, ensuring that investment goes where it is needed most. Program development needs to be guided by insights from the latest ECEC research to ensure our CEO Fund programs are based in the evidence and deep understanding of how to make quality ECEC more affordable and accessible.

The ECEC Research Program streams address the need to identify and fill ECEC evidence gaps in a rigorous way, ensuring depth and robust, valid and reliable insights.

The ECEC Strategic Research Fund is one of two streams under the ECEC Research Program:

• Stream 1: NSW ECEC Study (NEST) - procurement of consortium for research partnership

• Stream 2: ECEC Strategic Research Fund – open competitive grants scheme

Stream 2: ECEC Strategic Research Fund under the ECEC Research Program has an open, competitive assessment process. To be considered, applicants need to meet specific requirements and provide a comprehensive application that meets the assessment criteria. This is explained in detail in these guidelines.

1.1 ECEC Strategic Research Fund purpose and objectives

The ECEC Strategic Research Fund is a grants program to fund quality research as part of the ECEC Research program, which aims to enhance research that will benefit children, Early Childhood teachers and educators, ECEC settings, and communities across NSW.

The Strategic Research Fund is made up of two categories of grants:

1. Leveraging Grant: supports existing post-award research projects (for example philanthropic funding, ARC Linkage or Discovery projects). Successful projects will increase the applicability of project outcomes/outputs to the NSW ECEC context and the principal objective of the CEO Fund.
2. Innovation Grant: supports the development of new ambitious, innovative ECEC research aligned with the ECEC research priorities. Successful projects will provide immediate applied benefit to the ECEC workforce and support the translation of research into new innovations and policy initiatives.

1.2 Grant value

The total value of the ECEC Strategic Research Fund grant is up to $1,000,000. Applications can be made for grants up to the value below in each of the two categories:

1. Leveraging– grants for up to $150,000 per year, for up to 2 years
2. Innovation – grants for up to $200,000 a year, for up to 2 years

Funding from the ECEC Strategic Research Fund will take the form of a cash contribution following the execution of a funding deed between the administering organisation and the CEO Fund Board.

The grant monies must be used primarily on resources and activities within NSW. If part of the research is to occur outside NSW, details must be included in the application.

2. Selection criteria

2.1. Eligibility criteria

2.1.1. Eligible applicants

To be eligible for grants under the ECEC Strategic Research Fund, lead researchers must:

• be employed by a university in NSW (the administering organisation)
• be a permanent staff member, who holds the position of Senior Lecturer equivalent or above
• have the demonstrated skills and capacity to deliver the project
• the administering organisation must be financially viable and able to demonstrate they are likely to remain so over the duration of the project.

Ineligible applicants include:

• Australian Government agencies (Commonwealth, State or Local), State Owned Corporations or statutory authorities
• Businesses that are insolvent.

2.1.2. Eligible Projects

For projects to be eligible, all grants under the ECEC Strategic Research Fund must:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria of one of the following grant categories under the ECEC Research Program:
   1. For projects to be eligible for the Leveraging Grant - the research project proposal must be a post-award project (for example philanthropic funding, ARC Linkage or Discovery projects). Successful projects will increase the applicability of project outcomes/outputs to the NSW ECEC context and the principal objective of the CEO Fund
   2. To be eligible for the Innovation Grant - the research project proposal must qualify as ambitious, innovative ECEC research aligned with the ECEC research priority areas below.. Successful projects will provide immediate applied benefit to the ECEC workforce and support the translation of research into new innovations and policy initiatives.
2. Align with at least one of the six research priority areas:
   1. ECEC Quality: Research that focuses on what quality can look like across the many ECEC contexts of NSW and how quality services that meet the needs of children and families can increase access and participation. This will include better understanding the factors enabling and constraining quality in ECEC environments, pedagogy, professional practice and leadership. 
   2. ECEC Workforce: Research that focuses on innovations to support attracting, retaining and sustaining the ECEC workforce, and understanding more about the conditions that enable ECEC professionals to thrive and provide high quality education and care. This will include research on professional learning and mentoring to support, retain and sustain the ECEC workforce, and support professionalism and completion of qualifications for the ECEC workforce.
   3. ECEC Models of Provision: Research that focuses on effective models of provision, and the benefits, challenges and enabling factors of different ECEC models of provision across different contexts and communities of NSW, including rural and remote areas. Research that provides the evidence to design, deliver and oversee inclusive, accessible and high-quality ECEC that meets the needs of the children, families and communities of NSW.
   4. Aboriginal led ECEC: Research that focuses on sustainable ECEC provision for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. Understanding more about how to increase access to culturally responsive early learning services; Aboriginal design and governance of ECEC in NSW; ECEC that builds on the strengths, wisdom and traditions of Aboriginal connections to Country, Language and Culture in NSW.
   5. ECEC Inclusion: Research that focuses on support to ECEC workforce and services to include all children, including how the supports required and/or different models can be created for sustainable, equitable, and high quality ECEC for all children, with a particular focus on disability equity.
   6. Under-served Communities: Research on increasing ECEC participation for under-served cohorts and communities in NSW; understanding more about the data used to identify children and communities most in need. Research on increasing supply in under-served areas, and reducing barriers to access for children and their families, and supporting ECEC Workforce – attracting, retaining and sustaining workforce in under-served areas and/or for under-served cohorts.
3. Have ethics approval or be likely to receive ethics approval from the relevant ethics committee at the university. Include evidence of approval or apply through the NSW State Education Research and partnerships (SERAP) process, if the proposed research project involves public preschools or schools. If a SERAP is unsuccessful, the proposed research will not be funded.

2.2 Assessment criteria

Applications will be evaluated and assessed according to the criteria outlined below. Please note that for Leveraging Grants (post-award philanthropic, or ARC Linkage and Discovery projects), criteria a) and b) will be awarded 100% of weighting due to previous assessment.

3. Application process

3.1. How to apply

The Strategic Research Fund grants are open and competitive. Applicants will submit a detailed application via SmartyGrants under one of the following categories: Leveraging or Innovation.

For all Strategic Research Fund grants:

• Applications close at 5 pm, 22 November 2025.
• Applicants must submit a Detailed Application Form.
• Applications must be submitted via the SmartyGrants website by an authorised officer
• from the applicant organisation, who confirms the accuracy of the application’s content.
• Applications will be reviewed to ensure they are complete, meet the eligibility criteria and comply with these Program Guidelines.
• Eligible and compliant applications will then proceed to assessment. Applications will be assessed on their comparative merits against the assessment criteria above. The selection panel will recommend suitable applications for funding to the EO Fund Board. The CEO Fund Board is the final decision-maker, and, in all circumstances, the CEO Fund Board’s decision is final.
• Applications must be signed by the lead researcher and endorsed by the respective Research Office at the Administering Organisation.
• Late applications will not be accepted.

3.2 Support available to applicants

Please contact CEOFund@det.nsw.edu.au for questions about:

• program activities or requirements
• whether your project is eligible
• how to apply

For assistance with the online application system, please contact the Smarty Grants Support Desk by phone on (03) 9320 6888 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or email service@smartygrants.com.au.

4. Assessment Process

4.1. Assessment of grant applications

4.1.1 Selection panel

The assessment of applications will be led by the ECEC Research Selection Panel (the selection panel), who will provide advice and recommendations to the CEO Fund Board on the suitability of proposals for support.

The selection panel will comprise members with a range of research and early childhood expertise, advice will also be sought in specialist areas related to projects as required.

The selection panel will be required to identify any conflicts of interest and sign a confidentiality agreement. Upon direction from the CEO Fund Board, an independent expert reviewer and/or probity advisor may be engaged for the specified purposes.

4.1.2. Assessment of applications

This grant under the ECEC Research Program has an open, competitive assessment process. To be considered, applicants need to meet the specific requirements outlined in the guidelines and provide a comprehensive application that meets the assessment criteria.

The selection panel on behalf of the CEO Fund Board will:

• Assess and rank grant applications according to the eligibility and assessment criteria; and
• Recommend which applicants, if any, should receive grants, and the amount of those grants.

The assessment criteria will be used to evaluate and rank applications by the selection panel for final funding approval by the CEO Fund Board.

4.1.3. Decision-making

The CEO Fund Board will consider recommendations from the selection panel and make final decisions on whether to fund project

4.2. Notification of application outcome

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the application outcome in writing via the email specified in the application form. Successful applicants may be placed under a media embargo to keep the outcome of the application process confidential until the NSW Government makes a public announcement.

Successful applicants will also be placed on a register for the ECEC Research Program indicating they were successful with their ECEC Research Program application. This register will be on the nsw.gov.au website.

4.2.1 Feedback on applications

Unsuccessful applicants may request feedback via email. There is no appeal process for the grant application outcome. The CEO Fund Board decision is final.

4.3. Publication of grants information

Applicants should note:

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide). This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the grant funding is approved or declined.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

The NSW Government may choose to publicly announce funding for individual applications and the expected research insights created by the funding. It may also use information provided to create case studies.

5. Successful grant applications

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a funding deed with the NSW Government. The funding deed must be signed by an authorised officer of the administering organisation.

5.1. Grant agreement

The funding deed outlines the important terms and conditions associated with the funding, which include the following:

• Regular project progress reports and other reporting requirements
• Milestones or targets to be met
• Acknowledgement of the financial support by the NSW Government.
• Acknowledgement to not make any financial commitments until funding deeds are executed
• Clarity as to termination rights
• Monitoring, reporting and acquittal requirements
• Repayment of unspent funds
• Responsibility for any project cost overruns
• Participation in a program evaluation or audit to determine the extent to which projects have contributed to the program objectives.
• Requests for variations or changes to the project that will only be considered in limited circumstances.

5.2. Grant payment

Funding from the CEO Fund Board will take the form of a cash contribution following the execution of a funding deed between the administering organisation and the CEO Fund Board. The funding deed must be signed by an authorised signatory of the administering organisation.

The grant monies must be used primarily on resources and activities within NSW. If part of the research is to occur outside NSW, details must be included in the application.

5.3. Unspent funds

Successful applicants will be required to pay back unspent funds or any funds not spent in accordance with the funding deed.

5.4. Indicative reporting and acquittal requirements

The funding deed outlines how the grant will be monitored through reporting (progress and final reports) and how successful applicants must keep the CEO Fund Board updated if their circumstances change.

5.5. Program Monitoring

Successful applicants will be required to participate in the ongoing monitoring after the project has commenced and final review at the conclusion of the program, by collecting and providing requested data and participating in monitoring and evaluation activities. The final review will require successful applicants to provide evidence of how projects have resulted in expected outputs consistent with the Program’s objectives. Further detail about the ECEC Research Program monitoring and evaluation activities will be included in the funding deeds.

6. Additional information and resources

6.1. Complaint handling

Any concerns about the program or individual grant applications should be in writing. The CEO Fund Board will handle all complaints in line with its complaints handling policy or the terms and conditions of the program.

6.2 Access to information

The GIPA Act provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives members of the public an enforceable right to access government information held by an agency (which includes Ministerial offices). Access to government information is only to be restricted if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

The NSW Legislative Council has the power to order the production of State papers by the Executive Government. Standing Order 52 provides that the House may order documents to be tabled by the Government in the House. The Cabinet Office coordinates the preparation of the papers – that is, the return to order. The return to order may contain privileged and public documents. Privileged documents are available only to members of the Legislative Council.

Note that documents submitted as part of a grant application may be subject to an application under the GIPA Act or an order for papers under Standing Order 52.

6.3. Ethical conduct

6.3.1. Conflict of interest management

Applicants are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest in their application which relate to their proposed initiative, if funded. A conflict of interest, if it arises, must also be disclosed by a contracted provider during the implementation of their initiative. Conflicts of interest may relate to partnerships, third party service provisions, contractors, staff employed as a direct result of the funded program or other aspects. Further details about how to disclose a conflict of interest can be provided on request.

6.3.2. Confidentiality

Successful applicants may be required to keep the outcome of the application process confidential until the Government makes a public announcement.

6.3.3. Research ethics

Successful applicants are required to demonstrate research ethics in accordance with:

• AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research

• NHMRC Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

• NHMRC Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.