The state government has handed down its 2026-27 budget. But what does it mean for young South Aussies? We take a look.
The State Budget was handed down yesterday, which means you may have heard a lot of big numbers flying around.
Basically, the budget is the government’s blueprint for how our money will be spent – from schools and hospitals to housing, roads, jobs and events.
But what’s in it that matters to young South Australians? Let’s take a look.
Housing help
The budget includes a $2.5 billion housing package aimed at getting more homes built, helping more South Australians into home ownership and supporting the construction workforce needed to make it happen.
One of the major initiatives is the expansion of the Rent to Own scheme, with 2000 new homes to be made available.
Under the scheme, eligible South Australians can move into a new home and pay rent at 75 per cent of the market rate for up to two years, with the option to buy the property by the end of the lease term. The purchase price is locked in at the start of the rental period, which means buyers are protected from further property price increases during that time.
The budget also includes:
- $50 million to fast-track infrastructure at Playford Alive, where 400 homes will be built exclusively for first homebuyers by the end of 2027
- $7 million over four years to establish a Portable Rental Bonds Scheme, so renters moving house can transfer their existing bond to their new rental property
- Expanded HomeStart Finance options, including higher income eligibility thresholds for some low-deposit loans and shared equity loans for multi-storey apartment purchases
And for people escaping domestic, family and sexual violence, the budget includes a new scheme offering 100 per cent stamp duty relief and, for eligible new homes or vacant land contracts, access to the First Home Owner Grant – even if they’ve previously owned a home.
Health and mental health
This is a big budget for health, including:
- $28 million over four years for a specialised mental health assessment unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, next to the emergency department, for people experiencing a mental health or drug and alcohol crisis. Additional units will also be delivered at Lyell McEwin and Noarlunga hospitals.
- $10 million over four years to support five GP clinics to establish specialised women’s health clinics, offering services including endometriosis and pelvic pain management, contraceptive implant services, plus pregnancy and fertility support.
- $4.6 million over four years to establish South Australia’s first Virtual Pelvic Pain Clinic and launch an endometriosis public health campaign.
- SA’s first IVF rebate scheme: Eligible applicants will be able to access a $2000 rebate per IVF cycle for up to two cycles, plus a $250 rebate for pre-IVF fertility testing.
- $13.2 million over four years to establish three more 24-hour pharmacies in the west, north-east and Adelaide Hills.
- $350,000 over two years to train an extra 100 GPs to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD, doubling the number of specially trained GPs in South Australia.
Cost-of-living help for families
For families with school-aged kids, one of the biggest changes in the budget is fee-free public school.
From the 2027 school year, public education will be free from Reception to Year 12, saving families of non-school card students an average of more than $8000 per child across 13 years of schooling.
There’s also $76 million over four years for measures aimed at keeping kids off screens by making sport, camps and extracurricular activities more affordable.
That includes:
- Free school camps for all Year 7 public school students
- One free term of before or after-school activities in public schools
- Free “come and try” sessions during school holidays
- Expanding the Sports Vouchers Plus program to include 16 to 18-year-olds from 1 January 2027, supporting an extra 18,000 young people each year
Out of school hours care will also get an expansion, with $45.5 million over four years to establish OSHC services at 68 government primary schools across the state. That’s expected to create about 2300 extra OSHC places.
Jobs, skills and the future economy
In good news for anyone training for their first job or a mid-career shift, the budget also focuses on the skills South Australians will need to fill jobs in the years ahead.
There’s $150 million over four years to build and run three new technical colleges, including one regional campus in Murray Bridge and two metropolitan campuses in Marden and Gawler.
The budget also includes:
- A new $50 million Research and Development Productivity Fund to support high-impact research programs and help turn university research into commercial outcomes
- $29.5 million to create 1000 new pathways into the construction workforce through apprentice training, industry partnerships and scholarships
- $26.8 million over five years to build South Australia’s AUKUS skills workforce, supporting more than 1000 new university, trade and upskilling opportunities
- $25.5 million for a new multi-trade vocational training workshop at TAFE SA Mount Barker, supporting up to 1200 additional apprentices in electrical, plumbing and carpentry
Truth-telling and treaty work
The budget includes $8.5 million over four years to establish a Truth-Telling Commission and progress treaty work with First Nations South Australians. The Commission will be led by First Nations leaders and work to acknowledge and recognise the history and experiences of First Nations South Australians.
It follows South Australia becoming the first Australian jurisdiction to form a state-based Voice to Parliament, and the state’s First Nations Voice calling for treaty in its 2025 annual address.
Getting around, sport and culture
If you catch public transport, there’s a temporary fare freeze. Metropolitan public transport fares will stay at 2025-26 levels until at least 1 October 2026.
The budget also includes $7 million for a new Park ’n’ Ride at Torrens Park railway station, $3.5 million for a battery-powered passenger train trial on the Belair rail line and $15.1 million to improve public transport services in Murray Bridge.
There’s also $100 million for a new State Gymnastics Centre, $49.3 million towards the new State Arts Media Hub at Tapangka, and an extra $1.5 million over four years for Adelaide Fringe.
Want the details? For more information, and to view the State Budget papers, click here.
