Subsidised Booth Initiative

Applications for the 2026 subsidised booth initiative are OPEN

Early Childhood Australia’s (ECA) National Conference brings people together to recognise the impact of high-quality early childhood education on the lives of young children and their families, as well as the importance of investing in ongoing professional development for educators, teachers and sector leaders.

The exhibition space at each conference is a popular part of the conference, attracting a range of exhibitors, many of whom exhibit at every ECA conference.

ECA is committed to supporting the diversity of individuals and organisations working to strengthen the wellbeing of young children. Our National Conference is an important sector development event that provides opportunities for networking, professional development and information sharing.

Following the success of past initiatives, ECA is offering subsidised booths for the 2026 conference. ECA recognises that some organisations may find it difficult to participate in the conference due to limited resources and/or long travel distances. To promote participation and reduce barriers, ECA is offering a small number of subsidised exhibition booths to support organisations that otherwise would not be able to exhibit at the conference.

ECA has set aside a limited number of standard exhibition booths at a significantly reduced rate for eligible applicants.

Eligibility criteria

Preference will be given to not-for-profit organisations, small organisations and volunteer groups.

Selection criteria

To qualify for the subsidy, you will be required to:

1. demonstrate a social purpose related to the rights and wellbeing of young children
2. outline the potential value of your exhibit to the conference and its delegates
3. explain why you would be unable to exhibit at the conference without the subsidy.

Please note: Do not apply for a subsidised booth if you do not meet the eligibility/selection criteria. Subsidised booths will be granted based on merit and at the discretion of ECA. Following the announcement of the decision, ECA will not enter into discussions with unsuccessful applicants to justify the decision. If your application is not successful, you may not be able to exhibit due to the limited number of subsidised booths available. You cannot purchase a booth at full price while applying for a subsidised booth.

Requirements for subsidised booths

On being accepted as a subsidised exhibitor, you must:

• be prepared to attend the full conference on all three days
• be available to meet with ECA and have photos taken during the conference, for later inclusion in media and promotion by ECA
• provide feedback on the conference and the value of the subsidy following the conference.

Applying for a subsidised booth

To apply for this subsidy, please complete the application form.

apply now

All applications must be submitted by COB (AEST) Friday 17 April 2026. Any applications received after this date will not be considered.

Applications for a subsidy will be assessed after the closing date, and all applicants will be notified of the final decision by COB (AEST) Friday 8 May 2026.