Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships and applications

  • You can apply if you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident, at least 17, and enrolled in (or intending to enrol in) an approved Australian Bachelor or Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education. We also look for a genuine commitment to early childhood and at least one indicator of financial need.

  • No. Scholarships are open to early childhood educators around the country and aren’t tied to any provider. Where you work, or plan to work, is up to you.

  • Our scholarship agreement asks recipients to confirm they’re working as an educator in an approved early childhood service and enrolled in an approved course. If you’re still thinking about enrolling and need financial help first, reach out anyway — we’d rather talk it through than have you rule yourself out.

  • Applications are reviewed in set windows. There are two remaining windows for 2026:

    Window 1:

    Window 2:

  • Head to our Applications page, complete the form and send it with your supporting documents. Applicants who meet the criteria are assessed by a selection panel, there may be a short interview, and you’ll be notified by phone or email.

  • It depends on your circumstances and what you’re applying for — course costs, living-away-from-home expenses, or resources and equipment. Scholarships are based on demonstrated need rather than a fixed amount.

  • They can go towards course fees, resources and equipment such as a laptop or textbooks, and living costs like rent if you’re studying away from home.

  • Either directly to you, or straight to your education provider towards your tuition — whichever suits your situation.

  • Yes. You can apply before you’re accepted, but payment is held until your enrolment is confirmed.

  • A CSP means the government subsidises part of your fees; the rest is your “student contribution amount”. We can help with scholarships towards that student contribution.

  • Recipients sign a scholarship agreement. It asks you to take up a permanent full-time early childhood teaching role in an approved service within six months of finishing your course, and to send us a short progress report each semester while you study. There’s no minimum period of service after that — we back you because we want you in the sector, not because we’re holding you to a contract.

Diploma Supported Program

  • It’s our partnership with the College for Australian Early Childhood Educators (CAECE) offering fully funded Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care scholarships, so educators can gain a diploma without the cost being a barrier.

  • Both people just starting out in early childhood and current educators who want to upskill to a diploma and move towards teacher or leadership roles.

  • Applications go through CAECE. Visit our Diploma Supported Program page and follow the link to the CAECE website for the details and to start your application.

Webinars and professional development

  • Nothing. Our professional development webinars are free for every educator in Australia, whatever your role or level of experience.

  • Registration is through Humanitix — you’ll find the link on our Professional Development page and across our socials.

  • Yes. Everyone who registers gets a link to the recording, available to watch for one week after the session. The recordings belong to our speakers, not to us, so they can’t be downloaded, shared or used for anything other than watching them yourself during that week. If you missed the window, keep an eye out — many of our speakers return.

  • Everyone in early childhood — student teachers, educators in the room, and centre directors and leaders. Each session is built to be useful across all levels of experience.

Research Impact Grant

  • It’s a grant that backs research making a practical difference in early childhood — $20,000 towards the research plus $10,000 to help put the findings into practice.

  • The 2026 recipient is Annette Carroll (La Trobe University / Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre) for her project “Feelings & Flourishing”.

  • The grant is open to doctoral candidates at Australian universities whose research can make a practical difference in early childhood settings. Applications for the current round are closed; the next round opens in February 2027 and will be announced on this site and our socials.

Donations and Sponsorship

  • Yes. The Fraser Foundation (Fraser Education Foundation, ABN 69 950 924 583) is a registered charity and a Type 1 deductible gift recipient, so gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible and we issue a receipt.

  • Sponsorship starts at a minimum of $25,000 per year, billed annually, and the Foundation allocates the funds to recipients. Because degrees take up to three years, we spread the funding across that period, so a $25,000-a-year commitment usually supports two to three recipients at a time. Email hello@thefraserfoundation.com.au to arrange it

  • Into our programs — ECT scholarships, the Diploma Supported Program, free webinars, the Research Impact Grant and the Gundoo Project. We’re a charity and we measure success by how many qualified educators we help into classrooms.

  • Yes — workplace giving lets staff donate from pre-tax pay, and some employers match it. Get in touch and we’ll help you set it up.

  • Absolutely. The Annual Charity Luncheon is our biggest fundraiser of the year — buying a seat or table, or giving on the day, all goes towards scholarships.

About the Foundation

Who runs the Fraser Foundation?
We’re an independent registered charity founded in 2021 by Jae Fraser, with cofounder Andrew Heslehurst, and governed by a volunteer board of early childhood professionals and community leaders.

What does the Foundation actually do?
We support the early childhood sector through ECT scholarships, the Diploma Supported Program, the Research Impact Grant, the Gundoo Project, and a free national webinar series.

How is the Foundation funded?
Through donations, scholarship sponsorships, partners such as Child Care Super, and our Annual Charity Luncheon.

How do I get in touch?
Email hello@thefraserfoundation.com.au, call 1300 018 308, or write to 15 Olympic Circuit, Southport QLD 4215.