The Childcare Leadership Alliance (CLA) supports high-quality early learning services in regional communities by addressing the challenges of attraction, recruitment, and retention. We aim to ensure centres can operate at full capacity to meet the needs of working families and their children.

Through the Place Based Funding (PBF) Program, we provide reimbursement of up to 85% of costs services incurred on attraction, recruitment, retention, and relocation of eligible employees.

Close up of child's hands playing with coloured wooden toys

Key Dates

Round One:

CLOSED
7 October 2025 – 28 October 2025

Dysart Funding Pool: $66,000
Moranbah Funding Pool: $110,000

Round Two:

OPENING SOON
16 March 2026 – 1 May 2026

Dysart Funding Pool: $132,000
Moranbah Funding Pool: $165,000

Round Three:

PLANNED
March 2027 – May 2027

Dysart Funding Pool: $132,000
Moranbah Funding Pool: $165,000

Innovation & Flexibility – Talk to Us

While our online application process is quite structured, we recognise that the best solutions for regional childcare are often unique.

  • Check Eligibility: If you want to confirm a specific project or expense is eligible before you start, please reach out.
  • Innovative Ideas: The CLA encourages and considers innovative strategies that may fall outside our standard pilot categories.
  • Custom Support: We want to ensure this funding reaches the services that need it; if your situation is complex, we can be flexible if you discuss it with us early.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

  • Be an approved ECEC or OSHC service located in Moranbah or Dysart.
  • Be a registered not-for-profit.
  • Have a current NQS rating of at least ‘Meeting’.
  • Apply for educators who commenced work during the specified period and are currently still employed.

The specified periods for each round are:

Round One:

January 2023 to December 2024

Round Two:

January 2025 to December 2025

Round Three:

January 2026 to December 2026

Application Resources

Before commencing your application, please review the following materials to prepare:

Required Documentation

When applying you will need the following documents ready for upload: 

  • Financial Details: latest audited financials, current profit and loss statement,  budget and balance sheet
  • Evidence of Tenure: a copy of lease agreement or title deed (front and signature pages only)
  • Certificates of Currency: liability insurance, professional indemnity and workcover
  • Educator Evidence: employment contracts, qualifications and associated receipts/invoices for each person

Please note: Your business privacy is a priority. Financial data is used solely for the internal assessment of your application and is never shared externally or publicly. We maintain strict confidentiality protocols for all uploaded documents in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions

Ready to Apply?

The online application form for Round 2 will open on Monday, 16 March 2026.

For queries or to discuss a unique project idea, please contact Bella Hickson, Programme Manager.

CLA Ph: 07 2115 7018
Email: hello@childcareleadershipalliance.com.au