$3.6 million funding round opens for WA early childhood organisations

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) organisations across Western Australia can now apply for grants of between $20,000 and $200,000 as part of a new $3.6 million funding round aimed at strengthening preschool participation, quality and children's transition to school.

The Supporting Children in Early Childhood Education and Care WA Grant Program has opened for its latest round, providing funding for initiatives that develop and maintain quality preschool programs, promote enrolment and regular attendance, and help prepare children for their first year of school.

Funded by the Australian Government through the Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA), the grants will be administered and distributed by Child Australia.

A particular focus of the latest round is improving preschool participation and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children experiencing developmental vulnerability.

The new funding round builds on investment made through the program in 2025, when 52 organisations received a combined $2.9 million to improve the quality and accessibility of kindergarten programs across Western Australia.

Those initiatives benefited more than 7,400 children across the state.

The latest $3.6 million allocation represents an increase in the funding available to the sector and provides ECEC organisations with an opportunity to develop initiatives addressing some of the barriers that can prevent children from accessing and regularly participating in preschool education.

The program's emphasis on enrolment and regular attendance is particularly significant for services working with children and families who may experience barriers to accessing early childhood education.

Alongside developing and maintaining quality preschool programs, funded initiatives can focus on increasing participation and helping children prepare for the transition to school.

Western Australian Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said the funding reflected the importance of ensuring children and families could access quality early learning regardless of their background.

"The Cook Labor Government is committed to working with all levels of government to ensure that Western Australian children and their families have access to quality early learning, no matter their background," Minister Winton said.

"By funding programs to promote enrolment and improve attendance, we're giving more young children the opportunity to thrive."

The funding forms part of the broader Preschool Reform Agreement between the Australian Government and states and territories.

The agreement establishes a national reform agenda focused on strengthening the delivery of preschool education and supporting children to be better prepared for their first year of school.

For WA providers, the latest funding round creates an opportunity to consider how existing or proposed initiatives could strengthen preschool quality, increase enrolment and regular attendance, improve transition-to-school outcomes or address participation barriers experienced by priority groups.

Organisations considering an application should closely review the program guidelines and eligibility requirements before developing their proposal, particularly the requirement for initiatives to align with the objectives of the Preschool Reform Agreement.

Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said the partnership between governments and the sector was central to delivering the grants.

"It's wonderful to partner with Child Australia and the Commonwealth Government in delivering these grants to our early childhood sector," she said.

Full grant details, including eligibility requirements and application information, are available through Child Australia.