New Start Strong funding guidelines confirmed in NSW

New Start Strong funding guidelines have been announced as preschools across New South Wales prepare to be part of the NSW Government’s $1.3 billion Affordable Preschool program from the start of 2023. 

The guidelines outline how early childhood services can support families to access affordable preschool.

From January 2023, all NSW families will be eligible for:

• up to $4,220 per year in fee relief for three, four and five-year-olds attending a community or mobile preschool

• up to $2,110 per year in fee relief for four and five-year-olds attending preschool in a long day care setting on top of their Child Care Subsidy payment, and

• the equivalent of five days a fortnight of affordable preschool fee relief for all children in Department of Education preschools. 

“With cost-of-living pressures being felt across Australia, the NSW Government is reducing stress for families across NSW by providing immediate fee relief,” NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said. 

“For the first time, the NSW Government is extending fee-relief to NSW families whose children attend preschool in a long day care setting, because at the end of the day what’s important is our littlest learners having access to great quality preschool programs,” she added.

The NSW Government is investing more than $15.9 billion in early childhood commitments announced as part of its 2022-23 budget.