Investing in preschool infrastructure
The Government of South Australia is investing in early learning infrastructure through the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program, supporting the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool, as outlined in the Preschool Infrastructure Strategy.
The Flying Start Infrastructure Grants program provides co-investment to support building new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities where additional preschool capacity is needed.
In parallel, South Australia has secured funding through the Australian Government’s $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to support new and expanded early childhood education and care services in communities with unmet demand, particularly in regional and underserved areas.
Together, these complementary investments are strengthening early learning infrastructure and expanding access to preschool and early childhood services across rural and regional South Australia.
Refer to the resources below for more information:
- Preschool Infrastructure Strategy
- Flying Start Infrastructure Grant Guidelines
- Provider FAQs
- Guidance Pack
- Building Early Education Fund
Each Flying Start Infrastructure funding round will have a 2-stage approach, with applicants successful in Stage 1 invited to progress to the more detailed Stage 2.
Round 2 of the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants is now closed.
Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on announcements of future grant rounds.
What kinds of infrastructure projects can be funded?
The OECD will consider co-funding:
- expansions to sessional preschools or long day care services delivering 3-year-old preschool; and
- new builds of preschool integrated with long day care.
To be eligible you must:
- be an eligible entity (such as a not-for-profit, South Australian local government, or South Australian non-government school)
- be located in an area of unmet demand as per the Market Information Summary (or have strong local evidence to support your community’s need)
- create more places for preschool children
- deliver or plan to deliver funded 3-year-old preschool
- have a viable project; and
- be able to cover all project costs above the grant funding you receive. This may include applying for funding under the state government's School and Preschool Loans Scheme.
If successful, you will not be eligible for future infrastructure grants from the OECD for that project.
Have a question?
If you have a question after reviewing the details on this website and our FAQs, please contact oecd.infrastructure@sa.gov.au
Contact
Policy, Provision and Planning, Infrastructure & Local Planning Team