Deadline looming for Child Care Flexibility Grants

Media Release

Services interested in providing more flexible hours of child care have until next Wednesday (12 June) to apply for grants that will fund their innovative ideas.

Early Childhood and Child Care Minister Kate Ellis said a $1.3 million Child Care Flexibility Fund had been open for providers seeking grants to explore ways of providing more flexible models of care for Australian families.

The Fund will operate as a government-community partnership, awarding grants of up to $250,000 to child care providers, employers or employee associations offering proposals that address child care flexibility in an innovative and sustainable way.

Applications need to be lodged by 12 June, 2013.

"I urge community groups to get their applications in before Wednesday and I look forward to hearing how new ideas developed from the fund help to better meet the child care needs of families."

The competitive grants fund will complement a series of 12-month trials for flexible child care across Australia which will involve the Government partnering with a range of stakeholders across different child care settings.

The package is worth $5.5 million, designed to inject more flexibility into the child care system so it is more responsive to Australian families using child care.

Further information on the Flexibility Fund, including application forms and the Grant Guidelines, are now available at  http://deewr.gov.au/