New subsidies open to strengthen and retain Australia’s early childhood workforce

Applications have opened for two new Commonwealth funding measures aimed at strengthening workforce capability, supporting educator qualifications and helping services meet new child safety training requirements across the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.

The Professional Development Subsidy and the Paid Practicum Subsidy form part of the Federal Government’s broader workforce strategy, with both measures intended to ease cost pressures on providers while improving retention and career progression.

Support for mandatory child safety training

National child safety training became mandatory for educators and teachers working in ECEC services in February 2026, as part of the Albanese Government’s $226 million child safety reform package.

The Professional Development Subsidy is designed to help approved providers cover the cost of releasing staff to complete the training on paid time.

Funding may be used to:

• backfill staff while educators complete training during work hours
• pay educators to undertake training outside usual rostered hours
• support retrospective claims where training has already been completed, provided no other government assistance was used for the same purpose

The Government has also pointed to additional support options, including funding to assist centres that close after 5pm to conduct training, as well as the use of existing planning time and staff meetings.

The measure is expected to assist services to meet new compliance obligations while maintaining continuity of care for children and families.

Paid practicum support for qualifications

Applications have also opened for the Paid Practicum Subsidy, which is available to eligible educators undertaking:

• a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• an early childhood teaching qualification
• relevant postgraduate early childhood teaching qualifications

The subsidy enables providers to offer paid leave to educators who are required to complete practicum placements as part of their studies.

For many educators, unpaid placement requirements can create financial pressure and delay qualification completion. The new measure is intended to reduce those barriers while supporting workforce retention and progression.

The subsidy may be particularly relevant for:

• educators moving from Certificate III to Diploma level qualifications
• diploma-qualified educators progressing to teaching qualifications
• services seeking to strengthen leadership, pedagogical capability and succession planning

Minister highlights workforce investment

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh said a strong and skilled workforce remained central to quality early learning outcomes.

“A highly skilled workforce is the foundation of quality early childhood education and care,” Minister Walsh said.

“This mandatory safety training will give the workforce the support they need to recognise when something isn’t right, and to act.”

“These subsidies help to build and retain the existing highly skilled early learning workforce.”

“All Australian children deserve access to quality and safe early learning.”

Sector significance

The announcement comes as many services continue to navigate workforce shortages, qualification pipelines, increasing regulatory expectations and the need to strengthen child-safe practice.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and application details, is available through the Department of Education.

For more information and to apply, visit Professional development opportunities - Department of Education, Australian Government.