Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) – Special Circumstances Grant Opportunity

  • Up to $4 million per year is available for allocation under this opportunity
  • No maximum grant amount
  • Ongoing grant opportunity

The Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) Special Circumstances Grant Opportunity is part of the Australian Government’s broader Child Care Safety Net program, designed to support vulnerable and disadvantaged families by maintaining access to essential childcare services. This grant helps ensure continuity of childcare where a service faces viability risks arising from unforeseen events beyond its control. Such situations may include natural disasters, extreme weather, or other unexpected circumstances that threaten the operation of a service and could lead to a local market failure, leaving communities without adequate childcare options.

Key Requirements

  • Support continuity of childcare in vulnerable or disadvantaged communities The objective is to ensure childcare services continue operating when unforeseen events—such as natural disasters, severe weather, or unexpected financial disruptions—impact viability. This support prevents community market failure and maintains essential early childhood service access.
  • Assist childcare services experiencing viability risks due to unforeseen events Applicants must demonstrate that an event outside their control has impacted financial viability and created a risk of closure. Funding should address operational pressures directly linked to the event.
  • Ensure funding is supplementary and targeted Grants are intended to fill short‑term gaps where fee income and existing subsidies are insufficient. Applicants must show how the funding will support continued operations and maintain service delivery.

 

What is eligible for funding?

Funding may support activities necessary to maintain continuity of child care following an unforeseen event.

Eligible activities include

  • implementing changes to business practices or operating models
  • temporarily meeting standard operating costs
  • addressing additional costs directly related to the triggering event
  • meeting urgent health and safety requirements
  • and undertaking activities that address specific community needs such as transport services, family engagement initiatives, or other reasonable supports agreed with the department.

What companies are eligible for funding?

To apply, an organisation must be:

  • An approved provider of an approved childcare service under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.
  • Operating in a disadvantaged or vulnerable community.
  • Operating in an area of limited supply (e.g., sole provider or essential community service).
  • At risk of closure due to an unforeseen event outside the provider’s control.

Both for‑profit and not‑for‑profit services may apply, but funding cannot be used to generate profit.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.