The disadvantaged and vulnerable communities grant helps services stay open and increase the number of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC). The grant is open to services in identified priority areas.
On this page:
Priority areas experience particularly high levels of disadvantage and vulnerability compared to most other communities.
We have identified a list of priority areas for the Round 4 grant opportunity. This list relates to applications for Round 4 only.
We use the Australian Statistical Geography Standard Statistical Area 2 level (SA2) mesh block to identify priority areas.
| State/territory | SA2 Area |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Fraser |
| New South Wales | Albion Park Rail |
| New South Wales | Ashcroft - Busby - Miller |
| New South Wales | Auburn - Central |
| New South Wales | Bankstown - North |
| New South Wales | Bankstown - South |
| New South Wales | Bass Hill - Georges Hall |
| New South Wales | Batemans Bay |
| New South Wales | Berala |
| New South Wales | Beresfield - Hexham |
| New South Wales | Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila |
| New South Wales | Bidwill - Hebersham - Emerton |
| New South Wales | Bossley Park - Abbotsbury |
| New South Wales | Bourke - Brewarrina |
| New South Wales | Cabramatta - Lansvale |
| New South Wales | Cabramatta West - Mount Pritchard |
| New South Wales | Campsie - North |
| New South Wales | Campsie - South |
| New South Wales | Canley Vale - Canley Heights |
| New South Wales | Casino |
| New South Wales | Casino Surrounds |
| New South Wales | Casula |
| New South Wales | Cessnock |
| New South Wales | Chester Hill - Sefton |
| New South Wales | Claymore - Eagle Vale - Raby |
| New South Wales | Cobar |
| New South Wales | Coonamble |
| New South Wales | Edensor Park |
| New South Wales | Fairfield |
| New South Wales | Fairfield - East |
| New South Wales | Fairfield - West |
| New South Wales | Far West |
| New South Wales | Granville - Clyde |
| New South Wales | Greenacre - North |
| New South Wales | Greenacre - South |
| New South Wales | Greenfield Park - Prairiewood |
| New South Wales | Guildford - South Granville |
| New South Wales | Guildford West - Merrylands West |
| New South Wales | Inverell |
| New South Wales | Kempsey |
| New South Wales | Kurri Kurri - Abermain |
| New South Wales | Kyogle |
| New South Wales | Lake Munmorah - Mannering Park |
| New South Wales | Lavington |
| New South Wales | Lethbridge Park - Tregear |
| New South Wales | Lithgow |
| New South Wales | Liverpool - East |
| New South Wales | Liverpool - West |
| New South Wales | Lurnea - Cartwright |
| New South Wales | Macksville - Scotts Head |
| New South Wales | Macquarie Fields |
| New South Wales | Merrylands - Holroyd |
| New South Wales | Moree |
| New South Wales | Mount Druitt - Whalan |
| New South Wales | Mount Hutton - Windale |
| New South Wales | Murwillumbah |
| New South Wales | Muswellbrook |
| New South Wales | Nambucca Heads |
| New South Wales | Nowra |
| New South Wales | Port Kembla - Warrawong |
| New South Wales | Punchbowl |
| New South Wales | Raymond Terrace |
| New South Wales | Rosemeadow - Glen Alpine |
| New South Wales | Smithfield - Wetherill Park |
| New South Wales | St Marys - North St Marys |
| New South Wales | Sussex Inlet - Berrara |
| New South Wales | Tamworth - West |
| New South Wales | Taree |
| New South Wales | Tenterfield |
| New South Wales | Wagga Wagga - West |
| New South Wales | Walgett - Lightning Ridge |
| New South Wales | Warilla |
| New South Wales | Warwick Farm |
| New South Wales | Wellington |
| New South Wales | Wentworth - Buronga |
| New South Wales | Wentworth-Balranald Region |
| New South Wales | Wiley Park |
| New South Wales | Wyong |
| New South Wales | Yagoona - Birrong |
| Northern Territory | Alligator |
| Northern Territory | Berrimah |
| Northern Territory | Charles |
| Northern Territory | Daly |
| Northern Territory | Driver |
| Northern Territory | Elsey |
| Northern Territory | Flynn (NT) |
| Northern Territory | Gray |
| Northern Territory | Gulf |
| Northern Territory | Howard Springs |
| Northern Territory | Karama |
| Northern Territory | Ludmilla - The Narrows |
| Northern Territory | Malak - Marrara |
| Northern Territory | Moulden |
| Northern Territory | Sandover - Plenty |
| Northern Territory | Thamarrurr |
| Northern Territory | Tiwi Islands |
| Northern Territory | Victoria River |
| Northern Territory | Wagaman |
| Northern Territory | Weddell |
| Northern Territory | Woodroffe |
| Queensland | Aitkenvale |
| Queensland | Aurukun |
| Queensland | Ayr |
| Queensland | Beaudesert |
| Queensland | Beenleigh |
| Queensland | Berserker |
| Queensland | Browns Plains |
| Queensland | Bundaberg |
| Queensland | Bundaberg North - Gooburrum |
| Queensland | Bundaberg Surrounds - South |
| Queensland | Bundamba |
| Queensland | Burrum - Fraser |
| Queensland | Caboolture - East |
| Queensland | Caboolture - South |
| Queensland | Caboolture - West |
| Queensland | Cairns City |
| Queensland | Cape York |
| Queensland | Carpentaria |
| Queensland | Central Highlands - East |
| Queensland | Charleville |
| Queensland | Churchill - Yamanto |
| Queensland | Clontarf |
| Queensland | Condon - Rasmussen |
| Queensland | Cranbrook |
| Queensland | Crestmead |
| Queensland | Deception Bay |
| Queensland | Drayton - Harristown |
| Queensland | Eagleby |
| Queensland | Far South West |
| Queensland | Garbutt - West End |
| Queensland | Gayndah - Mundubbera |
| Queensland | Gin Gin |
| Queensland | Gladstone |
| Queensland | Goodna |
| Queensland | Gracemere |
| Queensland | Granville |
| Queensland | Gulliver - Currajong - Vincent |
| Queensland | Gympie - North |
| Queensland | Gympie - South |
| Queensland | Heatley |
| Queensland | Herberton |
| Queensland | Hyde Park - Pimlico |
| Queensland | Inala - Richlands |
| Queensland | Innisfail |
| Queensland | Ipswich - East |
| Queensland | Kallangur |
| Queensland | Kelso |
| Queensland | Kingaroy |
| Queensland | Kingaroy Surrounds - North |
| Queensland | Kingston (Qld) |
| Queensland | Kirwan - East |
| Queensland | Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw |
| Queensland | Kuranda |
| Queensland | Lakes Creek |
| Queensland | Lawnton |
| Queensland | Leichhardt - One Mile |
| Queensland | Logan Central |
| Queensland | Loganlea |
| Queensland | Lowood |
| Queensland | Mackay |
| Queensland | Manoora |
| Queensland | Manunda |
| Queensland | Mareeba |
| Queensland | Marsden |
| Queensland | Maryborough (Qld) |
| Queensland | Maryborough Surrounds - South |
| Queensland | Morayfield - East |
| Queensland | Mount Morgan |
| Queensland | Nanango |
| Queensland | Newtown (Qld) |
| Queensland | North Ipswich - Tivoli |
| Queensland | North Toowoomba - Harlaxton |
| Queensland | Northern Highlands |
| Queensland | Northern Peninsula |
| Queensland | Palm Island |
| Queensland | Park Avenue |
| Queensland | Parkhurst - Kawana |
| Queensland | Pialba - Eli Waters |
| Queensland | Point Vernon |
| Queensland | Redbank Plains |
| Queensland | Riverview |
| Queensland | Rockhampton City |
| Queensland | Rocklea - Acacia Ridge |
| Queensland | Rosewood |
| Queensland | Rothwell - Kippa-Ring |
| Queensland | Slacks Creek |
| Queensland | South Mackay |
| Queensland | Southern Downs - East |
| Queensland | Southern Moreton Bay Islands |
| Queensland | Svensson Heights - Norville |
| Queensland | Tablelands |
| Queensland | Tara |
| Queensland | Toowoomba - Central |
| Queensland | Torquay - Scarness - Kawungan |
| Queensland | Torres |
| Queensland | Torres Strait Islands |
| Queensland | Tully |
| Queensland | Urangan - Wondunna |
| Queensland | Wacol |
| Queensland | Walkervale - Avenell Heights |
| Queensland | Warwick |
| Queensland | Waterford West |
| Queensland | West Gladstone |
| Queensland | Westcourt - Bungalow |
| Queensland | White Rock |
| Queensland | Wilsonton |
| Queensland | Woodridge |
| Queensland | Woree |
| Queensland | Wulguru - Roseneath |
| Queensland | Yarrabah |
| Queensland | Zillmere |
| South Australia | APY Lands |
| South Australia | Barmera |
| South Australia | Berri |
| South Australia | Ceduna |
| South Australia | Christie Downs |
| South Australia | Davoren Park |
| South Australia | Elizabeth |
| South Australia | Elizabeth East |
| South Australia | Goyder |
| South Australia | Hackham West - Huntfield Heights |
| South Australia | Lonsdale |
| South Australia | Loxton Surrounds |
| South Australia | Morphett Vale - West |
| South Australia | Mount Gambier - East |
| South Australia | Murray Bridge |
| South Australia | Parafield Gardens |
| South Australia | Paralowie |
| South Australia | Port Augusta |
| South Australia | Port Pirie |
| South Australia | Renmark |
| South Australia | Salisbury |
| South Australia | Salisbury East |
| South Australia | Salisbury North |
| South Australia | Smithfield - Elizabeth North |
| South Australia | The Parks |
| South Australia | Waikerie |
| South Australia | Wakefield - Barunga West |
| South Australia | Western |
| South Australia | Whyalla |
| Tasmania | Acton - Upper Burnie |
| Tasmania | Bridgewater - Gagebrook |
| Tasmania | Burnie - Wivenhoe |
| Tasmania | Devonport |
| Tasmania | East Devonport |
| Tasmania | Forestier - Tasman |
| Tasmania | Geeveston - Dover |
| Tasmania | George Town |
| Tasmania | Glenorchy |
| Tasmania | Invermay |
| Tasmania | Montrose - Rosetta |
| Tasmania | Mornington - Warrane |
| Tasmania | New Norfolk |
| Tasmania | Newnham - Mayfield |
| Tasmania | Northern Midlands |
| Tasmania | Rokeby |
| Tasmania | Scottsdale - Bridport |
| Tasmania | South Launceston |
| Tasmania | St Helens - Scamander |
| Tasmania | Ulverstone |
| Tasmania | Waverley - St Leonards |
| Tasmania | West Coast (Tas.) |
| Tasmania | West Ulverstone |
| Victoria | Bendigo |
| Victoria | Broadmeadows |
| Victoria | California Gully - Eaglehawk |
| Victoria | Campbellfield - Coolaroo |
| Victoria | Carlton |
| Victoria | Corio - Lovely Banks |
| Victoria | Craigieburn - Central |
| Victoria | Craigieburn - South |
| Victoria | Cranbourne |
| Victoria | Cranbourne North - West |
| Victoria | Dandenong - North |
| Victoria | Dandenong - South |
| Victoria | Dandenong North |
| Victoria | Deer Park |
| Victoria | Delahey |
| Victoria | Doveton |
| Victoria | Echuca |
| Victoria | Epping - South |
| Victoria | Fawkner |
| Victoria | Frankston North |
| Victoria | Glenroy - East |
| Victoria | Hallam |
| Victoria | Heathcote |
| Victoria | Kings Park (Vic.) |
| Victoria | Lalor - East |
| Victoria | Maryborough (Vic.) |
| Victoria | Meadow Heights |
| Victoria | Melbourne Airport |
| Victoria | Melbourne CBD - North |
| Victoria | Melton |
| Victoria | Melton South - Weir Views |
| Victoria | Melton West |
| Victoria | Mildura - North |
| Victoria | Moe - Newborough |
| Victoria | Mooroopna |
| Victoria | Morwell |
| Victoria | Newcomb - Moolap |
| Victoria | Noble Park - East |
| Victoria | Noble Park - West |
| Victoria | Norlane |
| Victoria | Pakenham - South East |
| Victoria | Richmond - North |
| Victoria | Roxburgh Park - North |
| Victoria | Roxburgh Park (South) - Somerton |
| Victoria | Sebastopol - Redan |
| Victoria | Seymour |
| Victoria | Shepparton - South East |
| Victoria | Springvale |
| Victoria | Springvale South |
| Victoria | St Albans - North |
| Victoria | St Albans - South |
| Victoria | St Arnaud |
| Victoria | Sunshine |
| Victoria | Sunshine West |
| Victoria | Thomastown |
| Victoria | Upper Yarra Valley |
| Victoria | Wendouree - Miners Rest |
| Victoria | Werribee - East |
| Victoria | Wyndham Vale - South |
| Victoria | Yarram |
| Western Australia | Armadale - Wungong - Brookdale |
| Western Australia | Balga - Mirrabooka |
| Western Australia | Boulder |
| Western Australia | Calista |
| Western Australia | Camillo - Champion Lakes |
| Western Australia | College Grove - Carey Park |
| Western Australia | Derby - West Kimberley |
| Western Australia | East Pilbara |
| Western Australia | Geraldton - East |
| Western Australia | Girrawheen |
| Western Australia | Gosnells |
| Western Australia | Greenfields |
| Western Australia | Halls Creek |
| Western Australia | Katanning |
| Western Australia | Kununurra |
| Western Australia | Leinster - Leonora |
| Western Australia | Maddington - Orange Grove - Martin |
| Western Australia | Mandurah - South |
| Western Australia | McKail - Willyung |
| Western Australia | Meekatharra |
| Western Australia | Northam |
| Western Australia | Parmelia - Orelia |
| Western Australia | Plantagenet |
| Western Australia | Roebuck |
| Western Australia | Toodyay |
| Western Australia | Warnbro |
| Western Australia | Withers - Usher |