The state government is investing big time to make expanded out-of-school hours care and universal three-year-old preschool a reality for South Aussie families.
In a win for South Australia’s working parents, the trial of Kindy Care – a program that provides extended care for children outside of the regular 9am-3pm preschool hours – is set to start in July. This comes after a state government announcement in August 2023 of a $56 million workforce fund ahead of a staged rollout of universal three-year-old preschool from 2026 to 2032.
Kindy Care will be trialled at the following locations:
- Renmark North Preschool
- Loxton Preschool Centre
- Millicent North Kindergarten
- Park Terrace Kindergarten
- Salisbury Heights Preschool
- Bridgewater Kindergarten
- Cumberland Preschool Kindergarten
- Fairview Park Kindergarten
- Lantana Kindergarten
- Magill Kindergarten
- Ocean View College Children’s Centre
- Clarence Park Community Kindergarten
- Adams Road Children’s Centre
- Dernancourt Kindergarten
- Gabmididi Manoo Children and Family Centre
- Gawler & District B-12 Children’s Centre
- Gladigau Park Kindergarten
- Seaview Downs Preschool
- Wattle Park Kindergarten
- Glossop Community Preschool
It’s a key part of the SA Government’s full response to the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
Led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Royal Commission outlined the steps needed to reduce the rate of South Australian children who are developmentally vulnerable when they start school – from 23.8 per cent to 15 per cent over the next 20 years.
The Royal Commission found quality early-learning programs can turn things around for vulnerable children, so they thrive when they start school. Delivering universal three-year-old preschool is the fundamental way in which the state government will deliver this vital early learning – for all SA kids.
For those in need of a definition, universal three-year-old preschool means all South Australian three year olds can access 15 hours of quality preschool programs a week for 40 weeks of the year, as four-year-olds can now.
Three-year-old preschool programs will be offered in settings where children are already receiving early childhood education and care services, whether it be long day care, government preschool or an early learning centre. Children enrolled in long day care services will receive their preschool program in that service as it becomes available. You can read all the details of the Royal Commission recommendations in The Post’s article here.
Increasing preschool teachers
To make universal three-year-old preschool a reality, South Australia will have to boost our number of early childhood teachers by 41 per cent – that means 800 teachers. We’ll also require 880 educators for important roles in preschool, long day care and family day care, plus more administrative and managerial staff to run the new preschool programs.
That’s why the state government is investing $56 million to grow and develop the early childhood education workforce through university and vocational education. The investment will start this year and is great news for both students and existing early childhood educators, as it will mean scholarships on offer for South Australians to study or upskill to become an early childhood teacher.
These initiatives build on the early childhood education and courses offered at metropolitan TAFE SA campuses, which were reinstated in 2022 and made fee free in many cases last year.
Great news for parents
There’s also another big factor driving these reforms, which will be welcomed by working parents and carers. Reforming out-of-school hours care (OSHC) is also vital to ensuring more families can juggle family responsibilities and work.
Around 21,400 SA families access OSHC each week, meaning more than one in every six primary school children are attending. But the Royal Commission made it very clear families need an increase in the amount, flexibility and quality of OSHC in order for parents and carers to pursue a career. For families of children with a disability it’s even more challenging to participate in the workforce because OSHC often doesn’t meet their kid’s needs.
The government also previously accepted the Royal Commission’s recommendation to trial different models of preschool out of hours care. Trials at 20 government preschools begin this year, and evaluation of these trials will inform the strategy for offering this service more broadly.
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More good news for Aboriginal families
The Royal Commission heard evidence of how preschool can be a warm and welcoming place for families of three-year-old Aboriginal children, where they are surrounded by culture, language and the wisdom of elders.
From this year, three-year-old Aboriginal children are eligible for 15 hours of preschool in government preschools, up from 12 hours. The state government will also start work this year in partnership with Aboriginal communities to codesign and invest in further initiatives for Aboriginal children.
Who’s making it happen and what’s next
Development of the $56 million workforce strategy is underway. The strategy will aim to grow the South Australian early childhood workforce to deliver universal three-year-old preschool. The strategy, which will be released by mid-2024, is being designed in consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders from the early childhood sector.
To lead this work, Kim Little has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the new Office for Early Childhood Development. Ms Little is a national expert in early childhood education and care delivery, having led the introduction of three-year-old preschool in Victoria.
Stay up-to-date on all the changes to early learning and care at the Office for Early Childhood Development’s website.
