$40,000 grant available to ECEC services to increase belonging

Early Childhood Education and Care services in Queensland have the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $40,000 to fund projects which encourage people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to participate in Queensland life, an announcement from multicultural affairs minister Stirling Hinchliffe has today revealed.

The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program funds community projects which help build a united, harmonious and inclusive Queensland, Mr Hinchliffe said, noting that the Palaszczuk government believes in the benefits of a diverse and inclusive Queensland.

Previous ECEC grant winners include The Creche & Kindergarten Association Limited who received a $23,310 grant for their Reaching Out 4 Access and Participation in Early Childhood initiative.

Making links with the Early Years Learning Framework, Mr Hinchliffe  said “This is an exciting time for Queenslanders to embrace our multicultural identity and to create activities that build a true sense of belonging.”

Funding for the program has doubled on previous years, with a commitment of $2 million to the program from the Queensland Government over the next three years. $300,000 is available in this round of funding, with individual projects eligible to receive up to $40,000. Further funding will be announced for projects which target regional communities and focus on regional welcome and inclusion.

Applications for this round of funding are open until 14 December 2018.