As a result of our sustained advocacy efforts, Universal Access funding will be delivered to privately owned long day care services again this year.

As members would be aware, we have been fighting for a more equitable approach to Universal Access funding in NSW for many years.

We had a significant win last year, with $300 per child in their year before school provided to long day care services via the $20m Long Day Care National Partnership Grants Program. You may recall that this was promoted as a "one-off grant", which we strongly objected to given that it was confirmed in the 2015-16 Federal Budget that Universal Access funding would be provided to states and territories in both 2016 and 2017.

We have been working extremely hard over the last six months to ensure that the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access made it explicit that states/territories - including NSW - would have to provide the funding regardless of setting; and to ensure the NSW Government delivered the funding more equitably across the sector. We have also been in discussions with the NSW Early Childhood Minister, the Hon Leslie Williams MP to nut out the details.

We have had a major win,with the NSW Government announcing 11 March 2016 that $23.6 million will be made available to long day care services to support the delivery of preschool programs for four and five year old children in their year before school. The base funding will be the same as last year (approximately $300 per enrolled child in their year before school), but additional bonus payments will be provided to encourage children to attend a preschool program for the recommended 600 hours per year.

All four and five year olds will be eligible for a minimum payment of $300 per child, rising to a payment of $450 for children enrolled for 600 hours. Four or five year olds from Aboriginal backgrounds or enrolled in services in disadvantaged areas will be eligible for a minimum payment of $450 per child, increasing to $675 for those enrolled for 600 hours.

We understand that this funding will be made available to services by late June 2016 through the 2016 Long Day Care National Partnership Grants Program.  Eligible services will be contacted directly by the NSW Department of Education and must complete and return the necessary documentation by FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016.  

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