Inclusion Support Program: Inclusion Agencies confirmed from July 2026

The Australian Government has confirmed the organisations that will deliver Inclusion Agency (IA) services under the Inclusion Support Program (ISP) from 1 July 2026, providing certainty for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services ahead of the new contract period.

Inclusion Agencies work with ECEC services to identify and address barriers to inclusion, helping educators build their capability and confidence to support the participation of all children.

The appointments follow a competitive procurement process and will apply across Australia from the beginning of the 2026–27 financial year.

Inclusion Agencies by state and territory

The following organisations have been selected to deliver Inclusion Agency services:

• KU Children's Services – New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland
• Gowrie South Australia – South Australia
• It Takes a Village (ITAV) – Victoria
• One Tree (Inclusion Support West) – Western Australia
• Early Childhood Australia (ECA) – Northern Territory
• Lady Gowrie Tasmania – Tasmania

According to the Department of Education, the updated arrangements are intended to strengthen how Inclusion Agencies work with services while maintaining continuity of support across the sector.

Greater focus on targeted support and capability building

Under the revised model, services will continue to receive support through the Inclusion Support Program, with a greater focus on:

• targeted assistance for services that need it most
• building educator and service capability in inclusive practice
• more flexible approaches to delivering support.

The Department said the changes are designed to ensure inclusion support remains responsive to the diverse needs of services, educators and children across different communities and settings.

For services, this may include a broader range of support options, such as coaching, professional learning, virtual engagement and on-site assistance, depending on local needs and circumstances.

Supporting inclusive practice across the sector

The Inclusion Support Program assists eligible ECEC services to build their capacity to include children with additional needs and create environments where all children can participate meaningfully in early learning.

For many providers, Inclusion Agencies are a key source of advice and practical support, helping services develop inclusion plans, strengthen educator practice and access resources that support children's participation and belonging.

While some jurisdictions will see a change in provider, many services will continue working with organisations that have long-standing experience delivering inclusion support across the sector.

The confirmation of Inclusion Agencies for the next funding period provides services with greater certainty ahead of the transition on 1 July 2026.

Further information about the Inclusion Support Program is available on the Department of Education website.

A full list of organisations delivering Inclusion Agency services from 1 July 2026 is available on the Department of Education website.