Capital Grants for Community Based Child Care

 Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony today announced funding of $3 million to assist community based child care services to upgrade their facilities.

“Community based child care services are some of Australia’s oldest child care providers. They provide services on a not-for-profit basis and may not have access to capital in the same way as commercially based child care services.

“That is why I am pleased that the Australian Government has made available this funding to help them improve the facilities they offer children and families using their care.

“These $3 million Minor Capital Upgrade grants will enable eligible services to carry out urgent work required to meet quality, health and safety standards.

“Eligible services include not-for-profit community operated long day care services, occasional care services (established under Australian Government planning process) and Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services.

“Services can apply for funding for individual projects costing between $5,000 and $30,000 to enable as many services as possible to benefit from these grants. However, services in remote, high cost areas may apply for up to $70,000 to ensure they are not excluded.”

All submissions will be assessed against a criteria that stipulates:

• Project funds are intended for immediate use to carry out urgent work to meet health, safety or licensing standards; and,
• Project costs cannot be met from within a service’s budget.

“The Australian Government’s role in funding child care is primarily focused in helping families with their child care costs through the Child Care Benefit payment. This payment is delivering an average payment of $2,000 per family per year.

“However, we do also offer substantial assistance to support child care services and this funding is an example of that assistance.

“This Government’s commitment to helping Australian families access affordable, quality and flexible child care is unprecedented. Our record $8 billion funding for the next four years will continue to help the record number of families and children balance their work and family commitments,” Mr Anthony said.

Applications close on 14 April 2004.