GO7073: ECEC Workforce Professional Development and Paid Practicum

These grants are being made available to the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce to assist with educator retention and upskilling.

They provide money for ECEC services to: 1- pay educators to undertake mandatory or highly recommended training during working hours or in their own time OR backfill those educators so that they can undertake mandatory or highly recommended trainings during working hours.

2- Pay educators a wage while they complete their practical component of an ECEC degree (including Diploma, Grad Diploma, Bachelor, Masters) to help student-educators complete their degrees.

Only ECEC Providers currently approved for and receiving the Childcare Subsidy (CCS) under Family Assistance Law are eligible (includes long day care, family day-care, in-home care, centre-based day care and outside school hours care).

Providers may apply for Professional Development or Paid Practicum grants for employees undertaking eligible activities (see section 6).

To be eligible, employees must be employed by the Provider and work at least 40 hours in the Service in a 3-month period.

Employees must be Australian citizens or permanent residents or hold a valid work (including student) visa permitting ECEC employment, be a contact worker (part of adult-to-child ratio or providing direct ECEC or supervision), and be full-time, part-time or casual employees who have worked more than 40 hours in the preceding three months.

Providers must not be receiving other funding for the same professional development activity.