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Grants of up to $50,000 are on offer for eligible Victorian approved providers wanting to trial new and innovative approaches to support the retention of early childhood teachers (ECTs) and educators in the first five years of their career journeys.

In 2022, the City of Ballarat received $25,000 through the Innovation Grants Program and partnered with Federation University to develop a 12-month induction and professional networking program, with the intention of better supporting early career early childhood teachers and retaining more of them in the sector and in the Ballarat region.

The program included four facilitated sessions at which early career ECTs from the City of Ballarat and neighbouring areas gathered to learn about local services and practitioners such as   Child and Family Services, Maternal Child Health, Libraries and Indigenous Services, that could support their work. 

Evaluation of the program showed that the participating ECTs appreciated these opportunities to come together, learn from one another and discuss how and when to access support available in the Ballarat community. 

Importantly, all participants in the program also indicated that they were either likely or very likely to continue working in the early childhood sector for the next five years, which highlights the success of the program in supporting the retention of these new ECTs. This innovative work is now informing the design of state-wide induction supports for beginning teachers.

Approved providers in Victoria who run  state-funded early childhood services and who have an innovative idea for a project that could support retention in their workplace are encouraged to apply for the 2024-25 Innovation Grants Program, which offers a great opportunity to implement innovative new ideas.

How to apply

Applications for the 2024-25 program are now open, and close on Friday 1 November 2024.

All applications must be submitted online through a SmartyGrants application form. Approved providers wishing to apply must be registered to use SmartyGrants. Registration is free.

Grant applicants are strongly encouraged to review the 2024-25 Innovation Grants Program Guidelines. The case studies outlined on the program webpage may also be a useful source of inspiration and guidance.

Free application writing support

Anyone interested in applying for the Innovation Grant Program is encouraged to attend the How to Apply for the 2024-25 Innovations Grants Program webinar being held on Tuesday 15 October, 4:00pm – 4:50pm (AEST).

Free individualised support to refine grant applications is also available from a professional writer. To access this support, follow the instructions on the program webpage.

More information

Please see the program webpage and 2024-25 Innovation Grants Program Guidelines for more information. 

Further support is available by emailing [email protected] 

For more information about retention-focused initiatives offered by the department, visit the Supports for early career early childhood professionals page.