ECE services to get $40 million funding boost six months early

Early childhood education centres will receive a 1.5% subsidy increase from July 2026, six months ahead of schedule, providing immediate financial relief to the sector.

Early childhood education services will receive financial relief in July 2026, six months earlier than the usual January implementation.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced that most ECE services will receive a 1.5% increase to their subsidy rates, worth $40 million annually to the sector. The increase typically applies from July but isn't received by services until the following January.

The announcement follows the Government's ECE Sector Review completed last year, which introduced 15 changes to make it easier to open and run centres. The review reduced licensing criteria by almost 20% and simplified 58 criteria.

The Government also introduced FamilyBoost, which has provided support to more than 92,000 families, offering up to $120 a week towards ECE costs.