Are you wondering about having a career in early childhood education but worried about the finances? Then Chelsea College offers you the chance to become a childcare professional in the year 2026. With Chelsea College, you will get government funding and scholarship options to make studying childcare more affordable and easier. In this blog, we will see the funding and scholarship options the college has to offer to the students in 2026, so that it makes sense to them.
Why Study Child Care in 2026?
The demand for childcare educators is increasing across Australia. This is leading to an increase in the number of childcare centres, kindergartens, and early learning centres that will need a qualified and professional workforce. It means you will have flexibility in your job and growth opportunities for you if you have:
- CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Chelsea College is offering both of these courses, with practical experiences, industry support and job placement assistance for students, making their courses some of the best for childcare education in 2026.
Government-Funded Courses (Eligibility-dependent)
A large number of students who enrol on childcare courses in 2026 may be eligible for government funding. This may mean, depending on your personal financial situation, that a large proportion, if not all, of your tuition fees will be covered.
Government funding is ideal for:
- School leavers
- Parents returning to employment
- Career changers seeking stability
- Those passionate about working with children
- Individuals wanting job-ready skills
Skills First Funding (Victoria Only)
As a domestic student in Victoria, you may be eligible for Skills First Funding through the Victorian government's vocational education program. Funding is available for the following childcare courses offered at Chelsea College:
- CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
The Skills First program is designed to help students into priority sectors, and childcare is one of the priority sectors in Victoria. Skills First funding is a valuable opportunity for eligible students to obtain a nationally recognised qualification at a significantly reduced fee.
JobTrainer & Priority Industry Funding
Childcare remains designated as a priority industry nationally throughout Australia, which may result in more funding opportunities in 2026, through JobTrainer and other state-backed initiatives.
This assists in the growth of the childcare workforce by:
- Finding workforce capacity to bring new people into the sector
- Providing hands-on, practical training
- Creating more employment opportunities for graduates
- Strengthening the future of the early childhood education workforce
As the demand for skilled childcare workers continues to steadily increase, students coming into the field can potentially expect an increase in funded training places and job pathways in 2026 and beyond.
Your Study Pathway for 2026
Here’s how to get started at Chelsea College:
- Check your funding eligibility
- Choose your course – Certificate III or Diploma
- Apply for 2026
- Start and gain your work placement
- Graduate job-ready in a growing childcare sector
Start your Childcare journey with Chelsea College and check your eligibility on our website today.
