Up to $200,000 to support the long-term sustainability and viability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services operating in communities experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
On this page you will find
What is the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF)?
The Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) Round 5 is a major Australian Government funding opportunity designed to support the long-term sustainability and viability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services operating in communities experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
Administered by the Community Grants Hub on behalf of the Department of Education, this open competitive grant provides funding over a three-year period to eligible Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved providers. The program is particularly targeted at under-served and unserved communities, including regional, rural and remote areas, and services delivering specialised care.
Community Child Care Fund level of support
Funding is available across two distinct activity streams. Applicants may apply for both streams, but must submit separate applications for each stream, per service.
Sustainability Support
- Minimum funding: $5,000 per financial year
- Maximum funding: $200,000 per financial year
- Maximum over 3 years: $600,000
- No co-contribution is required
Capital Support
- Minimum funding: $5,000 per financial year
- Maximum funding: $50,000 per financial year
- Maximum over 3 years: $150,000
- Applicants must contribute at least 20% of the total project cost. This requirement may be relaxed or waived on a case-by-case basis where strong justification or equivalent in-kind contributions are demonstrated.
Grant amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account service circumstances, proposed activities, and program priorities.
Community Child Care Fund important dates
- Applications close: 25 February 2026 at 9:00 pm AEDT
- Assessment period: May 2026
- Approval of outcomes: June 2026
- Notification to applicants: July 2026
- Grant commencement: September 2026
- Latest project end date: 30 June 2029
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Community Child Care Fund objectives
The objectives of the Community Child Care Fund Round 5 are to:
- Improve access to early childhood education and care for children from families and communities experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability
- Support ECEC services to address community-level barriers to participation in early learning
- Increase the number of children accessing ECEC services in under-served or unserved areas
- Strengthen the financial viability and long-term sustainability of ECEC services, including those facing fluctuating or low demand
Projects and expenditure eligible for Community Child Care Fund support
Eligible Projects
Sustainability Support – Eligible Activities
Funding may be used for activities that improve service viability and participation, including:
- Implementing changes to business practices to improve financial sustainability
- Workforce attraction, retention and training initiatives
- Community engagement to address barriers to early childhood participation
- Transition support toward a sustainable operating model
- Transport assistance to support access for isolated families
- Developing workforce and community engagement strategies
Capital Support – Eligible Activities
Funding may be used for minor capital works, including:
- Repairs, renovations or modifications to existing ECEC facilities
- Child safety and regulatory compliance upgrades
- Outdoor play areas, fencing and landscaping works
- Modifications to community buildings used for ECEC
Ineligible Expenditure
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- Purchase of land or construction of new buildings
- Capital works that have already commenced or been fully committed
- Costs already fully funded by another government program
- Day-to-day operating costs (unless approved as part of a transition strategy)
- Purchase or lease of vehicles not directly linked to transporting children
- Application preparation costs
- Activities that have already occurred
- Environmental sustainability activities unless directly supporting ECEC delivery
Other Community Child Care Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Community Child Care Fund support
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a CCS-approved provider operating an approved child care service under Family Assistance Law, and
- Meet at least one of the following:
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- Operate in a CCCF Round 5 Priority Area
- Operate in an Inner Regional, Outer Regional, Remote or Very Remote area
- Provide specialised care services to communities experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability
Both for-profit and not-for-profit providers are eligible; however, preference is given to not-for-profit services where applications are otherwise comparable.
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Community Child Care Fund assessment criteria
Applications are competitively assessed against weighted assessment criteria, with different criteria applying depending on the funding stream.
Capital Support – Assessment Criteria
Criterion 1: Operational Viability and Community Care Needs (60%)
- Operational viability and care needs (50%)
-
- Evidence of challenges affecting service viability
- How proposed capital works address safety, compliance and operational sustainability
- Local need (10%)
-
- Evidence of community demand, disadvantage, or lack of alternative services
- Support from families, schools or community organisations
Criterion 2: Project Delivery (40%)
- Cost estimation and funding use (15%)
- Financial contributions and co-contribution (5%)
- Management of cost overruns (5%)
- Completion of works within timeframes (15%)
Sustainability Support – Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed on:
- Availability and capacity of ECEC services
- Community need and participation barriers
- Workforce sustainability
- Business planning and financial viability
- Value for money and deliverability
How do I get the Community Child Care Fund?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project/s as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
To be competitive, applicants should clearly demonstrate:
- A strong evidence-based case for community need or disadvantage
- How the proposed activities will increase access, participation or sustainability
- Financial viability challenges and how funding will address them
- Clear alignment with CCCF objectives and priority areas
- Strong project planning, governance and risk management
- Value for money and realistic budgets supported by evidence
- Capacity to deliver outcomes within the proposed timeframes
Information to prepare for the Community Child Care Fund application
Applicants should prepare:
- Provider and Service CCS Approval IDs
- Approved Provider and Service Organisation IDs
- Financial statements (profit & loss and balance sheets)
- Completed budget templates
- Project quotes (Capital Support only)
- Evidence of ownership or permission to undertake capital works
- Supporting evidence of community need
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Community Child Care Fund
Applications must be submitted online via GrantConnect.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Community Child Care Fund resources
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