$84 million Preschool Boost fund launched to support South Australia’s youngest learners

More than 200 early childhood education and care services across South Australia will benefit from a new $84 million Preschool Boost initiative, designed to strengthen developmental outcomes for children in the critical years before school.

Announced this week by the Malinauskas Labor Government, the Preschool Boost fund forms part of South Australia’s broader three-year-old preschool reform, with long day care services and Department for Education preschools partnering to deliver universal access from 2026.

Partnering services will receive annual funding allocations to access a curated menu of more than 100 evidence-informed programs and supports. These include:

• Allied health services such as speech pathology and occupational therapy
• Professional learning and upskilling for educators
• Parenting programs to build family engagement and support

Funding amounts are determined using local socio-economic index data, ensuring additional support reaches the children and communities who need it most.

The initiative directly responds to one of the key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which called for early, targeted intervention to reduce developmental vulnerability.

The announcement follows the recent release of national Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data, which found that nearly one in four South Australian children begin school with at least one developmental vulnerability.

All programs available through Preschool Boost align with the five AEDC developmental domains, physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, and communication and general knowledge.

Services will receive localised support from the Office for Early Childhood Development’s Local Teams, who will help them analyse AEDC data and select programs that best meet the needs of their children and families.

Preschool Boost is a significant step in the rollout of universal three-year-old preschool across South Australia, and marks a broader shift towards an education system that is proactive, inclusive and data-informed.

Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer described the initiative as “the largest reform to education in decades.”

“We’re building a stronger early childhood system in South Australia, and it’s important we have a system that acts early, adapts to data, and responds to the needs of children and families,” Mr Boyer said.

“The boost fund supports services to enhance outcomes for all children, strengthen community partnerships, and address key gaps in development, so more children can start school ready to learn on the very first day.”

Read the full announcement here.