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Expanding Quality Access Support

Key information about accessing the Expanding Quality Access Support services.

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Support overview

Expanding Quality Access Support is for community preschool providers seeking optional support to apply for the Expanding Quality Access program. Expanding Quality Access Support is optional and is not an application for funding or ongoing support.

The Expanding Quality Access program aims to increase the accessibility of quality Early Childhood Education and Care by supporting eligible not-for-profit community preschools providers who wish to transition their service/s to a long day care service model by extending the hours of care and/or welcoming younger children.

Expanding Quality Access support from Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) and Shakeup Architecture is available for up to 20 hours per eligible provider and services (up to 10 hours per support provider).

The Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure outlines the scope and conditions of support available to apply.

Before you begin, please familiarise yourself with the following:

If you have questions about the Expanding Quality Access Program email ecec.eqa@det.nsw.edu.au.

Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure

Part 1 - Terms of Use

The Expanding Quality Access Program (Program) is an optional funding opportunity for community preschools who wish to transition to a long day care model to support local families who need quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) for longer hours and/or younger children.  

To support an application under the Program, eligible community preschool providers (Provider and Service) may be able to access optional Expanding Quality Access Support from two independent suppliers, Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), and Shakeup Architecture Pty Ltd (Shakeup) according to the scope, conditions and support tiers outlined in Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure.

Use of Expanding Quality Access Support is encouraged but not compulsory.

1. Scope of Expanding Quality Access Support

  1. CELA and Shakeup have been engaged by NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund Board (the Board) to provide services for the Program as set out in this document.
  2. The scope of the services to be provided by CELA and Shakeup for the Program includes individual and sector wide support inclusive of advice and resources to a Provider and Service who are potential applicants, applicants and/or successful recipients of the Program.
  3. CELA and Shakeup are to provide individual support services to NSW Community Preschool Providers and Services through Expanding Quality Access Support according to the tiers outlined in the Procedure in Part 2.
  4. CELA and Shakeup are only to provide Expanding Quality Access Support tier 1 and 2 services to a Provider and Service referred and approved by NSW Department of Education (the Department) according to the Procedure in Part 2.
  5. The services CELA and/or Shakeup are to provide under Expanding Quality Access Support to a Provider and Service will be only funded by the Board at the tier determined by the Department in the Procedure in Part 2, or as otherwise agreed between CELA, Shakeup and the Department.
  6. The scope of support does not include any work other than the work set out in the Procedure in Part 2. Any other work carried out by CELA and/or Shakeup or requested by a Provider and Service and will not be funded by the Board.
  7. For the avoidance of doubt, a Provider and Service may decide to engage CELA and Shakeup directly for more than the maximum number of hours or outside the scope, but this will be at the Provider and Service’s own cost unless approved beforehand by the Board.
  8. The Board will fund work by CELA and Shakeup, and the eligible costs incurred by them specified in their individual Contracts, but not any other professional or adviser costs.

2. Conditions of the engagement

  1. CELA and Shakeup will be engaged by the Provider and Service even though some of the services (if not all) they provide will be funded by the Board, in accordance with the Procedure in Part 2. No other parties are bound by that engagement, including the Board.
  2. CELA and Shakeup will produce a written report for the Board and its officers, outlining the work undertaken for each Provider and Service that uses Expanding Quality Access Support.
  3. CELA and Shakeup and their staff and contractors will declare any conflicts of interest at the beginning of the engagement and for the work undertaken with each provider and/or contractors undertaking work for eligible expenses.

3. Invoicing

  1. CELA and Shakeup will invoice the Board directly for Expanding Quality Access Support services rendered.
  2. CELA and Shakeup are to provide the Board evidence of the services rendered under Expanding Quality Access Support ahead of issuing an invoice to the Board. This is to ensure work undertaken is to a reasonable standard and costs incurred are as specified in their individual Contracts.

4. Risk and Release

  1. A Provider uses the Expanding Quality Access Support at their own risk.
  2. A Provider using the Expanding Quality Access Support releases the Board and its delegated officers (including the NSW Department of Education and its staff) from all claims, actions, and liabilities in connection with any costs, debt, loss or damage caused or contributed to by use of the Expanding Quality Access Support.
  3. The Provider and Service acknowledges that, to enable CELA and Shakeup to provide Expanding Quality Access Support services, cooperation and respect is required including the timely provision of accurate information.

Part 2 - Procedure

Who can access Expanding Quality Access support

Approved providers of community preschools who:

Expanding Quality Access Support Tiers

The Department, on behalf of the Board, will determine if a Provider and Service who registers for Expanding Quality Access Support is referred to CELA and/or Shakeup and the tier of service required.

The information a Provider and Service submit in the Expanding Quality Access Support registration form, will help the Department to determine the appropriate tier of support and support partner/s. The Board will fund support according to the time limit set under each tier.

Tier 0: Up to 15-minute call or email per Provider and Service with CELA for information on or for help registering Expanding Quality Access Support (no registration necessary).

Tier 1: Up to 30 minutes call or email per Provider and Service with CELA to consider if the Program is right for a specific Provider and Service and community.

Tier 2: Up to 10 hours of Expanding Quality Access Support per Provider and Service with CELA and/or up to 10 hours of Expanding Quality Access Support per service with Shakeup. This is a service that includes individual advice and/or resources to a Provider and Service delivered over the phone or email.

How to access Expanding Quality Access Support

A Provider and Service interested in accessing Expanding Quality Access Support for the Program should follow the below steps.

Step 1 - Review Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure

A Provider and Service should read Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure. By submitting a Registration, the Provider and Service will accept and agree to the Expanding Quality Access Support Terms of Use and Procedure.

Step 2 - Submit a Registration through SmartyGrants

A Provider and Service must use SmartyGrants to register for Expanding Quality Access Support.

A Provider and Service that contacts the support partners directly will be instructed to complete the Expanding Quality Access Support registration form.

Registration for SmartyGrants is a free and straightforward process. For assistance with the online application system, please contact the SmartyGrants Support Desk by phone on (03) 9320 6888 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Step 3 - Register before the closing date

Registrations will be received and assessed until 6 April 2026. To reap the benefits of the Expanding Quality Access Support, the Provider and Service are encouraged to register as soon as possible to allow for sufficient time to work with CELA and Shakeup before the application closing date. Late registrations for Expanding Quality Access Support and late applications for program funding will not be accepted.

Step 4 - Receive notification on the outcome for Expanding Quality Access Support

The Department will endeavour to ensure all Providers and Services who meet the requirements to access Expanding Quality Access Support are offered the service and receive notification of the outcome of their registration within 5 business days of registration.

CELA and/ or Shakeup will contact Provider and Service to provide Expanding Quality Access Support.

A Provider and Service that is unsure whether their registration has been successful or who have not received a notification of the outcome within 5 business days are encouraged to contact the Department at ecec.eqa@det.nsw.edu.au

How long is support available

A Provider and Service can receive the hours of support based on the determined tier (see above) and the Provider and Service status as a potential applicant, applicant and/or recipient.

Potential applicants and applicants will receive support until the Program applications close 13 April 2026.

A Provider and Service that is a successful recipient under the Program may continue to receive Expanding Quality Access Support upon the notification of a successful outcome.

When will support end

Expanding Quality Access Support will end when any of these events occur:

  • Explanding Quality Access Support hours are exhausted.
  • The Provider and Service notify the department they wish to end their engagement.
  • The Department determines that the Support must end including because the Provider and Service ceases to operate or are found ineligible for the Program.
  • The Provider and Service, the Department, CELA and/or Shakeup identifies that project or the activities at Provider and Service does not meet eligibility for funding under the Program or poses serious safety risks.
  • The Provider and Service is not a recipient under the Program (including conditional funding) after notification of program outcomes.

Acknowledgement

The Provider and Service acknowledge that all applications under the Expanding Quality Access program will be assessed on their merits under the program guidelines, including applications from providers who receive Expanding Quality Access Support.

To be clear, receiving Expanding Quality Access Support does not confirm a Provider and Service eligibility for the Expanding Quality Access program, nor does it mean they will be successful should they apply.

Applicants for the program must refer to the program guidelines, and to the extent there is any inconsistency between this document and the program guidelines, the latter prevail.

Contact details

The Board is committed to ensuring a positive customer experience. If you have questions about the program or Expanding Quality Access Support email ecec.eqa@det.nsw.edu.au or call the Department on 1800 619 113 and ask for the Expanding Quality Access team between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.

A Provider and Service who has feedback, suggestions, or complaints about the Registration form or related assessment process may also contact us through the above channels. Alternatively, you may submit feedback by completing the NSW Department of Education’s Complaint, or suggestion form.

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