More support to services under Community Child Care Fund

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers can now apply for funding to help services stay open in communities experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability. 

Up to $106.9 million is available through the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) to support early childhood education and care services, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australian communities. 

The Albanese Labor Government has also extended these grants from the previous two years to three years. 

Since its introduction in 2018, the Australian Government has provided more than $300 million in CCCF funding to around 1,200 services.

This round of CCCF will complement the Building Early Education Fund which is investing in expanding or building services in areas of need across Australia. 

The building fund will include up to $40 million for operational expenditure to support new sites, in addition to the CCCF.

Applications are open until 25 February 2026. For more information visit Sustainability and capital support grant - Department of Education, Australian Government.

Attributable to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, Jess Walsh:

“Every child deserves access to quality early learning – no matter their postcode or what their parents do for work.

“We know that quality early education sets up children for the best possible start in life.

“The Community Child Care Fund plays a critical role in ensuring services can operate in more disadvantaged areas.

“This is also why we’re investing $1 billion through our Building Early Education Fund to build more early learning centres where families need them most, including in the outer suburbs and regions.”