Birth-to-five teaching degree at UniSA supports growing demand for ECTs

The University of South Australia (UniSA) has developed a new three year degree focused on the developmental needs of children birth to five years of age in response to growing demand for early childhood teachers (ECTs). 

The University’s announcement comes in the wake of $715 million in funding from the South Australian Government intended to drastically overhaul early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the state following the Royal Commission. 

The new Bachelor of Education Early Childhood (Birth to Five) will deliver job-ready educators with the skills and knowledge to support learning and development of young children in their formative years. It will also support children of diverse cultures and backgrounds to ensure inclusivity for all children across the state.

“Our new Bachelor of Education Early Childhood (Birth to Five) will ensure students have access to the latest research to support the development of young children – whether that be about the brain development and neurodiversity, or the importance of learning through play,” UniSA Dean of Programs: Education Futures, Professor Anne-Marie Morgan said. 

The degree has been designed to meet current and future workforce demands, with the intention of building a professional and highly skilled generation of teachers who can confidently support young children to reach their full potential, she added.

Following recommendations from the Royal Commission, the Teachers Registration Board of SA (TRB) is expected to recognise three-year, ACECQA-accredited ‘birth-to-five’ degrees, and for graduates to be registered as teachers.

Currently ‘birth to five’ educators with a three-year degree have not been able to register as teachers in South Australia, however Professor Morgan hopes that revised TRB regulations will not only deliver greater recognition for graduating teachers but also help them to establish a specific early years teaching career pathway.

Accredited by ACECQA, the new undergraduate degree can be completed within three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) at UniSA’s Magill, Mawson Lakes, Whyalla, and Mount Gambier campuses, with online study options also available.

The new degree is the first of its kind in South Australia. It is currently accepting applications for 2024 midyear entry.