ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

The Preschools on non-government school sites grant program (the program) provides grant funding to build new or upgrade existing preschools or preschools in long day care centres on at least 50 non-government school sites, at both Independent and Catholic schools in NSW. It is designed to improve access to preschools in high-growth areas. School sites will be selected based on socio-economic status, student demographics and classification as a special school.

The program is administered on behalf of the NSW Government by (CSNSW) and (ISNSW) as ‘Grant Authorities’.

Prior to 1 April 2026, eligible non-government schools can apply for grant funding under the two program streams:

• New builds – grants of up to $4 million to support major capital works that will build new preschools on selected non-government school sites and grants for planning purposes.
• Upgrades to existing preschools – grants of up to $350,000 to support minor capital works and grants for planning purposes (for example, building of indoor or outdoor play spaces, renovations to existing facilities and minor expansions).

After 1 April 2026, eligible non-government schools can apply for grant funding for:

• New build – grants of up to $4 million to support major capital works that will build new preschools on selected non-government school sites and grants for planning purposes.
• Major upgrades to existing preschools – grants of $200,000 to $1 million to support capital works and grants for planning purposes (for example, building of indoor or outdoor play spaces, renovations to existing facilities and minor expansions).
• Minor works projects to existing preschools that align with National Quality Framework (NQF) Standards – grants of up to $200,000 to support minor work projects that aim to improve a service's NQF standards and grants for planning purposes (for example, improving child safety and the service's environmental responsibility).

Program objectives

The program will support more children and families to access quality preschool across NSW.

The program complements the NSW Government’s commitment to build 100 public preschools co-located with public primary schools by 2027.

Grants under the program will be directed towards non-government schools providing primary education (primary schools and composite (K-12) schools) in high-growth areas, and selected based on:

• socio-economic status

• student demographics

• classification as a special school.
  

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding under the program, a non-government school must:

• be registered for funding assistance under the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Act 1990 (NSW) (the Act)
• not operate on a ‘for profit’ basis within the meaning of section 83C of the Act
• be affiliated with one of the two Grant Authorities to the satisfaction of the relevant Grant Authority
• either own the land or have a lease on the land and/or buildings for a period commensurate with the period in which the grant may be required to be repaid if the school no longer provides education services.

High growth areas and neighbouring LGAs

Grants for new builds and major upgrades under the Program are to be directed towards non-government schools that are in high-growth local government areas or in LGAs neighbouring high-growth LGAs. This requirement does not apply to the minor works stream introduced from 1 April 2026.

A high growth LGA is defined as an LGA that is in the top 10% of LGAs experiencing growth in a 1-, 3- and/or 5-year period. The is used when determining high growth LGAs.

The list of neighbouring LGAs is based on the ABS 2024 Local Government Area map.

For more information, please refer to Appendix A and B of the Program guidelines (PDF 789.4KB).

Updates to program guidelines – April 2026

The department, in consultation with Catholic Schools NSW and Independent Schools NSW, updated the Program guidelines (PDF 789.4KB) in February 2026 which will come into effect 1 April 2026.

The changes include:

• A third funding stream for minor works and renovations capped at $200,000, to assist services in meeting relevant National Quality Framework standards.
• Expand the existing upgrades funding stream from a $350,000 cap to a $200,000 to $1 million range to support larger renovations and projects for increasing service capacity.
• A new targeted supplementary round in May 2026 for the new minor works stream.
• Developing a menu of easy refurbishments from which schools can choose to apply for grants under the new program. These will support schools and provide guidance to grant authorities - Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) and Independent Schools NSW (ISNSW).

These changes were approved by the Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning in February 2026 and apply to all future grant rounds after 1 April 2026.

Updates to program guidelines – August 2025

The department, in consultation with Catholic Schools NSW and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, updated the Program guidelines (PDF 1.21MB) in August 2025.

The changes include:

• applications for preschools within long day care centres are now eligible for grant funding

• eligible LGAs now includes those which are neighbouring to high growth LGAs
  

• modified processes to allow the department and Minister to assess and approve applications from each grant authority separately

• added an additional supplementary round in August 2025 using the updated program guidelines.

These changes were approved by the Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning in August 2025 and apply to all future grant rounds. Round 1 applicants were advised of their right to reapply or amend their application in a supplementary round in August, in line with these changes.

Funding

Eligible non-government schools and non-government school authorities may apply for funding for the planning, construction, alteration, extension, renovation, or upgrading of educational facilities, including:

• new capital developments to increase preschool enrolments
• refurbishment of existing facilities to increase preschool enrolments or provide facilities and learning spaces at an acceptable standard.

Funding is also available for the following types of work:

• the preparation of sites associated with the building project
• the purchase of essential furnishings and equipment associated with the project
• architectural, engineering and other professional fees (except general legal and bank fees)
• essential ground improvements associated with the project
• costs associated with meeting Council development application conditions
• costs incurred to comply with government (local, state and Commonwealth) legislation.

How and when to apply

Eligible non-government schools should submit applications to their relevant grant authority. Grant authorities will set and communicate their own deadlines for school applications. Please contact your relevant grant authority for more details.

Grant authorities will submit applications to the department on or before the application due date. The department aims to notify grant authorities by the outcome date.

The supplementary round in May 2026 is only open to minor work projects. To apply for funding for new builds and major upgrades, please refer to the other grant rounds.

The Program guidelines (PDF 789.4KB) include information about the eligibility criteria, selection criteria, timing of the grant rounds, application requirements, and process.

Application assessment

Each Grant Authority will submit to the department a list of projects recommended for funding, which will include the following details for each project:

• the name and details of the non-government school

• the type of project (new build or upgrade)

• proposed commencement and expected completion date of the project

• a brief description of how the project meets the Objectives of the Program and details of the facilities to be provided
  

• an assessment of how the project meets the Selection Criteria

• the estimated total costs for the project and the recommended funding to be provided

• details of the non-government school’s capacity to co-contribute 5% towards the estimated total costs of the project.

The department will assess applications submitted by each Grant Authority, and successful applications will be determined by the Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning.

Approved projects

The Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning is responsible for consideration and approval of grants.

The department will publish outcomes of each grant round when available.

Round 1 - March 2025

The department recieved 5 applications in round 1 of the program. On 14 August 2025, The Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning approved 2 projects:

Supplementary Round - August 2025

The department received 3 applications in the supplementary round of the program. On 29 September 2025, the Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning approved 3 projects:

The Minister, on the advice of the department, approved the application of St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School based on the school having previously met the socio-economic criteria when its application was submitted for Round 1 – March 2025. Rejecting the grant would have led to unfair outcomes and been contrary to the policy intent.

Round 2 - September 2025

The department recieved 1 application in round 2 of the program. On 18 November 2025, the Minister for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Early Learning approved one project:

For more detail, visit .

Payments for approved projects

Once a project is approved by the Minister, the department will release funds to the Grant Authorities, who are responsible for distributing the funds to the schools approved for grant funding. Grant funding is released following each application round.

Project evaluation

Projects approved under the program will be published on this website at the end of each submission round each year.

Reporting requirements

Further information on reporting requirements for non-government schools and Grant Authorities can be found under the ‘Reporting’ section of the Program guidelines (PDF 789.4KB).

Support and contact

For further information on the application process and requirements of the program, please refer to your relevant Grant Authority:

For more general queries, please email the NSW Department of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø at nongovschools@det.nsw.edu.au