2025 High Learning Support Needs Funding Program Guidelines

These program guidelines provide an overview of the 2025 High Learning Support Needs funding program.

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Key Updates

Cost escalation has been applied, and the new funding rate for the 2025 calendar year is $26.64 per hour for the equivalent of up to 600 hours of support per year.

1. Aim

These program guidelines (guidelines) provide an overview of the 2025 High Learning Support Needs (HLSN) funding program. The HLSN funding program is one of the four components of the Disability and Inclusion Program, which provides funding and support to enable children with disability or additional needs in not-for-profit community and mobile preschools (community preschools) to participate in a quality early childhood education program on the same basis as their peers. This document forms part of the 2025 Funding Agreement with Approved Funded Providers (providers).

These guidelines may be amended or replaced by the Department of Education (the department) from time to time. Providers must comply with the current version of the guidelines.

Funding for children with high learning support needs is provided for community preschools to develop and deliver the child’s individual learning plan (ILP). The ILP supports the child’s specific learning requirements to enable participation in an educational program on the same basis as their peers. See Section 10. Individual learning plan of these guidelines for further information on ILPs.

2. Service eligibility criteria

This funding is available only for not-for-profit community preschools who are receiving funding under the NSW Start Strong for Community Preschools or the Mobile Preschool Funding Program.

3. Child eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this funding, a child must:

  • be at least 3 years old on or before 31 July in that preschool year and not in compulsory schooling
  • turn at least 3 years old after 31 July in that preschool year and demonstrate exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to, any child or family that experiences out-of-home or alternative care arrangements, isolation, violence, and trauma, mental health issues, environmental disasters or other crises.

The child must also have high learning support needs as defined in these guidelines.

Children with high learning support needs:

  • have constant and ongoing support needs and require significant adjustments, or a temporary illness or injury that requires short term adjustment, to enable participation in the educational program on the same basis as their peers
  • require an ILP that identifies individual goals and the specific teaching strategies and adjustments required to achieve these
  • require consistent support and guidance to engage at the same level as their peers.

All applications will be considered by the department on a case-by-case basis.

4. Funding

4.1 Funding rate

Community preschools can apply for funding for a child with high learning support needs up to a total of $15,984 (ex GST) per child per year. This funding is provided at a rate of $26.64 (ex GST) per hour for the equivalent of up to 600 hours of support per child per year.

Enrolment decisions about individual children, including decisions about enrolment hours, are not determined by the department or this program. Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the community preschool in consultation with families.

4.2 Indexation

The department will make decisions on the application of indexation to funding rates on an annual basis. If indexation is applied, the department will be guided by NSW Treasury-determined rates. The department will communicate any changes to the funding rates arising from indexation via email to providers.

4.3 Provisional prepayment of Quarter 1 2025 HLSN funding

Eligible providers may opt in for a provisional prepayment of Quarter 1 2025 HLSN funding. A provisional prepayment is available for children who were eligible for annual HLSN funding in Quarter 4 2024 and who are identified as returning to the service in 2025.

Providers will still need to submit an individual application for 2025 HLSN funding for attending children in Quarters 1 or 2 2025.

The department will contact eligible providers to notify them of the opportunity to opt in for a provisional prepayment. The opt in process is voluntary. The department will provide eligible providers with an opt-in form to confirm continuing children. Providers are required to submit their opt in form by 15 November 2024. To receive the provisional pre-payment, providers must also sign the 2025 Early Childhood Education Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (Terms and Conditions) in Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).

The provisional pre-payment will be calculated based on the number of support hours to be requested for continuing children for Quarter 1 2025. The provisional prepayment will be made outside of the regular quarterly payment schedule in December 2024. Subsequent payments/adjustments for these applications will then return to the normal 2025 quarterly payment schedule. See Section 6. Application and payment dates for application cut-off and payment schedule.

Any provisional prepayments received in December 2024 will be offset against payments made for Quarters 1 to 3, 2025. Any provisional prepayment made for a child who does not return in 2025, or who is assessed as ineligible for 2025 HLSN funding, will be offset against HLSN funding for other children if applicable or will be required to be returned to the department as part of Quarter 3 adjustments or refunds. The department will contact providers regarding any return of funding required.

Please note: Providers will still need to submit an individual application for 2025 HLSN funding for attending children in Quarters 1 or 2 2024. The submission of an opt-in form is not an individual application.

5. How to apply

5.1 Applications

All applications and variations to applications are made on a per child basis in ECCMS.

Where a child attends more than one community preschool, each community preschool can apply for funding.

Information provided as part of funding applications may be used by the department for the purpose of assessing eligibility of a community preschool and/or child for HLSN funding in future years.

See Section 11. Application support for information about how the Sector Capacity Building providers can help community preschool staff apply for HLSN funding.

5.1.1 Newly enrolled/previously unfunded children

Applications should be made when the community preschool has an understanding of:

  • the child’s learning, development and wellbeing
  • the adjustments required to support the child to participate in the preschool program on the same basis as their peers.

5.1.2 Simplified applications for continuing children

A simplified application is available for children who were assessed as eligible for annual HLSN funding in Quarters 1 to 4 2024 and who are returning to the service and continue to have high learning support needs in 2025. Simplified applications for eligible children will be found in ECCMS as a draft application.

Applications should only be submitted for returning children with ongoing and constant high learning support needs.

Simplified applications should be reviewed and updated to demonstrate the child’s current functioning within the community preschool environment, reflecting any progress made, adjustments and supports required, to enable participation in the preschool program on the same basis as their peers. This information should not be copied and pasted from the child’s 2024 HLSN application. In order to be eligible, applications for continuing children in 2025 will need to provide an update on the circumstances of the child.

5.2 Consent

Under the Terms and Conditions, community preschools are required to facilitate the signing of the two types of consent forms, one for each staff member and one for each child upon enrolment. This form consents to the use and disclosure of personal information that is used by the department for reporting and funding purposes.

You must seek a renewal of the consent form every year the child attends. A new form should be completed if any of the details in the original consent form require an update or adjustment.

Provided the child consent form has been completed for each child, additional forms of parent/carer consent are not required for the Disability and Inclusion Program. However, community preschools are strongly encouraged to maintain ongoing dialogue with families regarding the submission of HLSN funding applications and the development and adjustment needs of individual children.

Child and personnel consent forms will be available shortly.

    Records of consent forms must be kept securely by the community preschool, along with documentary evidence of the child’s disability and/or additional needs. It is not a requirement for consent forms to be uploaded with a child’s application in ECCMS. However, the department will conduct compliance checks as part of its auditing process. As such providers are required to retain declaration and consent forms for this purpose as per Section 9. Financial accountabilities and funding compliance of these guidelines.

    5.3 Application requirements

    HLSN applications require:

    • a written diagnosis or NDIS plan or community preschool observations
    • details of how the child functions in the community preschool environment that consider the child’s strengths and needs in relation to the developmental domains
    • details of current and proposed adjustments that enable the child to participate in the educational program on the same basis as their peers. This may include adult guidance, teaching strategies, or environmental modifications
    • notification of the number of weeks the child is enrolled at the community preschool, excluding the weeks the preschool is closed for school holidays.

    5.4 Application types

    There are 3 types of evidence that can be provided for HLSN applications:

    • written diagnosis
    • NDIS plan
    • preschool observations.

    Only one type of evidence is required to support an application. Though if desired can upload more than one type of evidence to support an application.

    5.4.1 Evidence requirements for a written diagnosis application

    Documentation must:

    • confirm diagnosis of disability
    • be on letterhead and signed by the specialist and/or health professional who made the diagnosis. Electronic reports or records that confirm diagnosis of disability with electronic signatures, where a letterhead may not be available, may be accepted.
    • be from the specialist who made the diagnosis rather than an alternative specialist referring to the original specialist’s diagnosis.

    Specialists may include an audiologist, registered psychologist, paediatrician, psychiatrist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, a professional qualified to administer psychometric assessments or other relevant medical specialist.

    Where a document refers to a speech and language delay/disorder only, a moderate to severe diagnosis must be demonstrated and made by a speech pathologist.

    Documentation should be relevant, accurate and as recent as possible.

    5.4.2 Evidence requirements for a NDIS Plan application

    An approved NDIS plan for a child must be uploaded with a NDIS plan application. The child’s full NDIS plan does not need to be provided.

    The uploaded NDIS plan must include:

    • the child’s full name
    • the plan approval date, and/or the plan start date.

    5.4.3 Evidence requirements for a preschool observations application

    In circumstances where a child has been identified by the community preschool as having high learning support needs, and a written diagnosis or NDIS plan is not available or in place, services may submit an application supported by preschool observations.

    Observations provide data about the child’s functioning in the community preschool environment. Observations must be recorded by educators at the preschool and must be dated.

    Observations can be recorded as:

    • running records
    • time samples
    • frequency tally
    • scatter plots
    • anecdotal observations
    • Antecedents, Behaviour, Consequences (ABC) recordings
    • language samples
    • learning stories or narratives of key events.

    Observations must demonstrate that the child has high learning support needs and sufficiently demonstrate the frequency, intensity and duration of the concerns across the preschool routine. Observations should be taken over the course of at least a week and should be as recent as possible.

    The dated observations must be a description of what is observed, and not contain personal opinions, analysis or evaluation.

    The department has developed a series of optional templates to assist community preschools to make observations. Community preschools may wish to use the templates to support a HLSN application. Use of the templates does not determine the application outcome nor eligibility for funding. Access the templates for preschool observations.

    Eligible documentation is not:

    • letters of support for funding from professionals, including therapists and Sector Capacity Building (SCB) providers
    • professional reports indicating concerns and the requirement for further investigation
    • screeners such as Ages and Stages
    • developmental summaries or developmental milestone checks written by preschool educators
    • Individual Behaviour Plans or Individual Learning Plans.

    These documents can be provided as additional supporting evidence if available.

    5.5 Payments associated with application types

    Applications can be funded annually or quarterly. Eligible applications will attract annual funding, except where it is determined that adjustments may only be required on a temporary basis or where school exemption documentation is required (see Section 5.7 School exemptions).

    Applications that include observations taken by preschool educators that strongly indicate HLSN but do not provide sufficient evidence for annual funding may be considered for one quarter of funding.

    Applications eligible for quarterly funding will require the submission of a variation to be considered for payment for another quarter.

    5.6 Variations – including extended absence, child has left, increase or decrease in hours

    Changes in a child’s circumstances as the year progresses should be indicated through an application for variation. Variations can be made to eligible applications in ECCMS.

    To complete a variation, community preschools can select the pencil icon next to the child’s name in the list of child applications in ECCMS, select the reason for the variation and follow the prompts.

    Community preschools should select the reason for variation that best suits the child’s change in circumstances. Where a child’s circumstances have changed in several ways, more than one variation should be submitted.

    Variations should be made as soon as possible where:

    • the child leaves the community preschool
    • the child’s learning support needs change, and the community preschool needs to request an increase in HLSN hours
    • the child’s learning support needs change, and the community preschool needs to request a decrease in HLSN hours (including reducing HLSN hours to zero to inform the department that the child no longer requires HLSN funding)
    • school exemption documentation is obtained or a progress update about obtaining school exemption documentation is required
    • the child has returned from an absence of more than 5 weeks.

    Variations may result in a change in a community preschool’s funding allocation throughout the year. In such cases a funding adjustment will be applied to the community preschool’s next payment.

    5.7 School exemptions

    The Education Act 1990 mandates that all children must be in compulsory schooling by 6 years of age. Where an eligible child is turning 6 before 1 October and is still attending preschool, a Certificate of Exemption must be included with the child’s application to receive annual funding if they otherwise will be enrolled at a department public school. For children who will be attending a non-government school, an exemption from enrolment may be issued by the principal of the non-government school.

    Community preschools that are in the process of obtaining a certificate will be funded for one quarter and must submit a variation to an eligible application for continued funding until a certificate of exemption is provided. Community preschools can submit the variation to their eligible application – ‘provide school exemption documentation’ in ECCMS - to report progress towards obtaining a certificate, and/or to submit a certificate once obtained.

    Information about transition to school for children with disability and additional needs can be found on the website. For further information on the school exemption process, please contact the child's local school or the local educational services team. Your local educational services team can be contacted on 131 536.

    5.8 Corrections

    In certain circumstances corrections to submitted applications, which have not yet been assessed, may be made. A provider wishing to make corrections or add information to their applications should make a request to the department. The department will then assess that request and return the submitted application to draft.

    Applications that have previously been assessed as ineligible cannot be edited and resubmitted in ECCMS. A new application should be submitted when new information becomes available.

    6. Application and payment dates

    Application cut-off dates for HLSN funding Notification of Outcome and Payment
    Submitted by 5 pm
    Friday 6 December 2024
    Quarter 1 – By 28 February 2025
    (Funding is for January to March)
    Submitted by 5 pm
    Friday 7 March 2025
    Quarter 2 – By 23 May 2025
    (Funding is for April to June)
    Submitted by 5 pm
    Friday 23 May 2025
    Quarter 3 – By 31 July 2025
    (Funding is for July to September)
    Submitted by 5 pm
    Friday 15 August 2025
    Quarter 4 – By 31 October 2025
    (Funding is for October to December)
    Submitted by 5 pm
    Friday 10 October 2025
    Final adjustments – By 5 December 2025*

    *Only certain types of variations (increase in hours, decrease in hours, extended absence and child has left) and applications for children enrolled after the Quarter 4 application cut-off date will be considered for payment.

    6.1 Backdating

    The deadline for backdating for the period from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025 is 30 June 2025.

    Applications assessed as eligible for annual funding submitted up to and including 30 June 2025 will be backdated to the child’s enrolment start date for 2025.

    Funding for eligible applications submitted on or after 1 July 2025 will be backdated to 1 July 2025, or the child’s enrolment start date for 2025, whichever is the most recent date, to a maximum of 300 hours.

    Community preschools that submit applications on or after 1 July 2025 to support a child with HLSN enrolled from 1 July 2025 can receive up to 300 hours of funding. This condition also applies if the child’s enrolment start date is after 1 July 2025 and the community preschool submits the application prior to 1 July 2025.

    Under very limited and exceptional circumstances, applications that would otherwise be subject to this rule may be considered for more than 300 hours of funding. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to, the community preschool’s inability to submit the application earlier due to reasons such as an environmental disaster, long-term illness, or due to circumstances impacting the child and family which may include out of home care, violence or trauma.

    Where a community preschool believes that a child enrolled from 1 July 2025 requires adjustments supported by greater than 300 hours of funding, exceptional circumstances can be indicated in the application. All exceptional circumstances funding requests will be considered by the department on a case-by-case basis.

    In the application please state:

    • a clear justification of how the circumstances are exceptional, that is, what circumstances mean that more than 300 hours are required to implement the proposed adjustments for this child in the final 6 months of the year
    • how many hours above 300 are needed
    • a description of the proposed adjustments, that is, what adjustments will be provided using the 300 hours and what adjustments will be provided with the additional hours being requested.

    Exceptional circumstances requests will not be considered where an application could have been submitted earlier, or to reverse the impact of the backdating rule on funding allocations. Funding adjustments for approved variations to increase or decrease hours submitted by 30 June 2025, will be backdated to the variation start date.

    Funding adjustments for approved variations to increase hours submitted on or after 1 July 2025, will be backdated to 1 July 2025, or the variation start date, whichever is the most recent date.

    Funding adjustments for approved variations where the child has left the community preschool and to decrease hours will be calculated on a pro-rata basis, according to the variation start date (that is, the date the child left the community preschool).

    6.2 Priority payments

    A HLSN application can be considered for a priority payment where assessment determines that there is an urgent need for HLSN funding in order to support and supervise the child due to:

    • significant safety concerns for the child and/or other children, and/or staff at the community preschool
    • the significant safety concerns box is selected in the child’s application in ECCMS
    • the application is submitted within the first 4 weeks of the Quarter 2, 3 or 4 application periods.

    Examples of safety concerns may include, but are not limited to:

    • injuries to self and/or other children/staff
    • absconding from environments and/or the community preschool premises
    • aggressive actions such as hitting, kicking, biting, spitting, climbing or throwing furniture
    • staff require additional resources to manage aspects of the child’s condition to support full enrolment.

    A priority payment is made outside of the regular quarterly payment schedule. Subsequent payments for these applications will return to the normal quarterly payment schedule.

    Priority payment is not available for children funded in previous years at the service.

    7. Assessment and feedback

    The department will individually assess all HLSN applications against the eligibility criteria and assessment requirements as outlined in these program guidelines.

    If there is any missing or unclear information, services may be contacted with the opportunity to provide additional information. This will be done on a case-by-case basis, as required.

    Once assessed, the recommendations are made in writing for approval by the relevant delegates of authority as the decision-maker. The designated decision-maker and approval of payments are of the Minister's powers under the Government Sector Finance 2018 Act (GSF Act) Act unless otherwise stated.

    Providers will be notified of assessment outcomes for each application, and their funding allocation via email. When an application has been assessed as ineligible, the individual spreadsheet provided to each provider at the time of notification will indicate the relevant section of the guidelines for reference as the reason for ineligibility.

    Feedback on the outcome of a funding application can be sought from the assessment team by emailing ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au and providing the following information:

    • child’s application ID
    • community preschool name
    • contact person at the community preschool and contact phone number
    • the question/s you have about the child’s application.

    Once you have provided this information, a member of the assessment team will contact you to discuss your application.

    Note: please do not provide sensitive information (including diagnostic reports, developmental assessments, NDIS plans and observations) via email.

    Relevant information about eligible HLSN applications may be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder, after notification of outcome and payments are made to providers.

    The publication of information will comply with any legal requirements under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIP Act), the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) (HRIP Act), other statutory requirements.

    8. Spending rules

    HLSN funding must be used to support the individual child.

    Funding must be used for either or both of the below:

    • To increase the adult to child ratio during identified periods of the child’s attendance, enabling the child to participate in the education program and achieve the learning outcomes documented in their ILP.
    • Complete other activities directly related to the development, delivery and review of the child’s ILP, including:
      • collaborating and strengthening partnerships with other professionals working with the child
      • engaging with educators through the Sector Capacity Building program on matters related to the child
      • attend professional learning but only where this type of training cannot be provided free of charge by the community preschool's Sector Capacity Building provider.

    Staff support hours requested to increase the adult to child ratio should be reflected in the ECCMS funding application form in the table that indicates enrolment details and support hours being requested.

    Staff support hours outside of increasing the adult to child ratio should be reflected in the 'other support hours' section in the ECCMS funding application.

    Funding can also be used to offset the cost of professional development where this type of training cannot be provided free of charge by the community preschool’s Sector Capacity Building provider.

    The hours of funding required to offset professional development costs should be included in the 'other support hours' section in the ECCMS funding application.

    Funding cannot be used for:

    • payment of fees
    • employment or payment of therapists for children
    • assessments
    • specialist medical consultations (for example, paediatricians)
    • equipment, furniture and environmental modifications
    • early intervention supports that are most appropriately provided through the NDIS
    • any other functional supports that are provided through the NDIS or other programs
    • to offset existing staff costs
    • paying for professional development (including course costs related to the inclusion of the child) where this type of training can be provided free of charge by the community preschool’s Sector Capacity Building provider.

    HLSN funding provided by the department is a contribution to the possible expenses associated with implementing adjustments to enable individual children with disability and additional needs to be included on the same basis as their peers. A service can choose to employ staff at a higher hourly rate. The department’s contribution to the cost of an additional educator, to increase the adult to child ratio, regardless of qualification or hourly rate, is $26.64 per hour per educator.

    Approved HLSN funding cannot be transferred between community preschools when a child withdraws and enrols in a new community preschool. The funding must be returned to the department if a child leaves the service. The new community preschool will need to submit a new application.

    HLSN funding allocations must be expended in the calendar year in which it was allocated to an individual child.

    Community preschools with high numbers of children with HLSN

    Where a community preschool has a large number of children with disability and/or additional needs enrolled, HLSN applications must only be made for the hours of support that the community preschool can spend in accordance with the program spending rules.

    For example, if the community preschool does not need to employ additional staff to directly support individual children with HLSN, they should only apply for the hours of support required in relation to the other program spending rules.

    The department will engage with services where the number of children with high learning support is higher than expected.

    9. Financial accountabilities and funding compliance

    In accordance with the Terms and Conditions, a provider must submit a financial accountability statement for each individual service which has received funding. Submitting financial accountabilities helps to provide assurance that public funds have been expended for their intended purpose.

    Financial accountabilities are completed through ECCMS. Providers will be notified when these are due. Further information is available in the Financial Accountability Return Guide and on the Financial Accountability - Information for Services page.

    9.1 Surplus and refunds

    Providers are required to expend all HLSN funding in accordance with the spending rules during the relevant program period. The department understands that some providers may have a surplus at the end of their reporting period which needs to be returned to the department according to the Terms and Conditions. The department will identify and validate surpluses through the annual financial accountability process.

    The financial accountability process for any funding allocation will be undertaken in the following year after the reporting year is finished. The process involves completing a financial accountability statement to report to the department how funding has been spent in accordance with the spending rules of these guidelines. Financial accountability statements are completed at service level. Providers with surplus funds may be invoiced by the department requesting repayment of funds.

    The department will review these guidelines annually to ensure alignment with program funding objectives.

    9.2 Record keeping

    The department periodically conducts reviews of community preschool services and funding distributed to providers. For this purpose, the department may request that providers supply supporting documentation to the department and its representatives.

    Community preschools may be audited to confirm the accuracy of data provided in their performance and financial accountability statements, which includes ensuring that the funding provided has been used to support the achievement of educational outcomes for children with disability in accordance with these guidelines.

    Relevant records must be retained by providers for the purpose of the department undertaking funding compliance reviews.

    Examples of relevant records may include:

    • proof of expenditure in line with spending rules
    • parent/legal guardian declaration forms
    • enrolment and consent forms
    • documentary evidence of the child’s disability and/or additional needs
    • Individual Learning Plans (ILP) for children with disability or additional needs working towards 600 hours per year
    • Certificates of Exemption for any 6-year-old children enrolled in the service, if required.

    9.3 Review and evaluation

    These guidelines may be updated or amended over the course of the annual program. This will be in response to continuous program improvement or where further clarity is required. Changes to the guidelines may be made in consultation with the sector but remain at the discretion of the department. Any changes will be communicated to the sector.

    The department may undertake an evaluation to understand the effectiveness of HLSN program. Providers may be requested to participate in an evaluation of the program through the provision of data and participation in other evaluation activities as required.

    The department will make sure that any work with providers to enhance early childhood education programs aligns with quality expectations outlined under the National Quality Framework.

    10. Individual learning plan (ILP)

    An ILP must be developed for each child approved for High Learning Support Needs (HLSN) funding. It should have the following characteristics:

    • a written document that details what the community preschool will do for the child
    • a working document to help the community preschool record the progress of each child's learning, development and wellbeing
    • developed in consultation and agreement with the child's parents/carers
    • does not need to be lengthy or complex
    • updated regularly and reviewed at least every 6 months
    • forms part of the planning/documentation of the child's educational program and progress as part of the National Quality Framework
    • must address the following:
      • assessment information reports
      • information about the child's disability and additional needs
      • roles and responsibilities of team members and other services that may work with the child at the community preschool (for example, early childhood early intervention providers under the NDIS)
      • summary of the child's strengths, interests and needs
      • long term goals and outcomes
      • specific short-term objectives
      • teaching strategies
      • ongoing evaluation
      • documentation of the processes of transitions and continuities (either transition within the preschool, or from preschool to school).

    A community preschool can use the ILP to:

    • document consultation with the child's parents/carers and the reasonable systemic adjustments being made to support the child
    • complement the goals and aspirations expressed in the child's NDIS support plans, and the potential for integrated assessment and planning should be taken into account.

    11. Application support

    Under the Disability and Inclusion Program, Sector Capacity Building (SCB) providers are available to all community preschools to support the delivery of inclusive education practices and enhance inclusion readiness.

    SCB providers can help preschool staff apply for HLSN funding.

    Community preschools are encouraged to contact their SCB provider for support or to contact the department if they do not have the contact details of their SCB provider. The contact details for SCB providers can also be found in the 2024-2025 Sector Capacity Building program guidelines.

    12. Further information

    12.1 Conflict of interest management

    The department are required to consider and manage any conflicts of interest that may arise throughout all stages of the funding process. This includes any actual, perceived or potential conflicts that are identified.

    All providers are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest in their application which relate to their intended program, if funded. A conflict of interest must also be disclosed during the implementation of a program if it arises. Conflicts of interest may relate to partnerships, third party service provisions, contractors, staff employed as a direct result of the funded program or other aspects. Further detail about how to disclose a conflict of interest can be provided on request.

    12.2 Disability Discrimination Act 1992

    The department encourages community preschools to ensure that they are aware of their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the Act). Further information on the Act is available from the ACECQA website. The department also encourages preschools to seek support from their Sector Capacity Building provider to explore how barriers to inclusion may be removed or adjusted without additional funding.

    12.3 Contact details

    For further information about early childhood education programs, please contact the department by:

    12.4 Feedback

    We like to hear when things have gone well so we can continue to provide more positive experiences. Services and providers can provide suggestions, concerns or feedback about us to the regulatory authority, including complaints about the conduct of our staff, by following one of the steps below:

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