Elevating practice, pathways and professionalism: South Australia Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care

Australia’s ECEC sector is undergoing transformative change - driven by ambitious targets for universal access to early learning, innovation in vocational education and training, and a renewed commitment to child safety. 

Core to this transformation is the Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care, established through a joint initiative of the South Australian and Australian governments and guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. 

 

Based at TAFE SA’s Adelaide Campus, the Centre is a flagship investment in workforce development and sector leadership. It operates collaboratively, bringing together training providers, educators, researchers, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO’s), and other key partners to design and deliver learning that reflects the realities of contemporary practice and the diversity of Australia’s communities.

 

Why workforce quality matters 

 

The Centre’s work is grounded in the understanding that workforce quality is foundational to achieving quality outcomes for children. Its strategic priorities are clear:

 

• Strengthening workforce readiness, retention, and career pathways
• Supporting inclusive, culturally responsive education and training
• Providing accessible, high-quality early education and care

 

These priorities are interdependent and so by embedding collaboration into every aspect of its work, the Centre is ensuring the current and future workforce is responsive to the needs of children, families, and communities across Australia, because workforce retention is critical, not only for continuity of care and child safety, but for long-term sector capability and stability.

 

The Centre’s work aligns closely with the findings of the Jobs and Skills Workforce Capacity Report and the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care – Final Report, both of which highlight the urgent need for strategic, coordinated investment in workforce capacity.

 

System leadership and professional recognition

 

TAFE Directors Australia recognises Centres of Excellence as drivers of system leadership, elevating the professional status of educators and delivering programs that respond to evolving community needs. The Centre of Excellence in ECEC also plays a critical role in advancing the South Australian Government’s vision for universal access to high-quality preschool and integrated early childhood services, as outlined in the Royal Commission’s system reform roadmap.

 

Partnerships are central, not peripheral. Every program is co-designed with sector representatives to ensure training reflects lived realities, supports regulatory compliance, and is practical in real-world settings. 

 

As Jenny Dodd, CEO of TAFE Directors Australia, noted: “We can’t deliver reform without the workforce. We need quality educators in every community, and we need to keep them.” 

 

Jenny also emphasised: “The future of early learning reform relies on the people who deliver it. We must invest in their training, wellbeing and long-term career growth.” This commitment underpins every initiative of the Centre, ensuring educators are valued, supported, and equipped to lead change.

 

Innovative programs to support the South Australian workforce

 

Embedding a culture of child safety begins in training and continues throughout an educator’s career. Vocational education and training play a vital role in equipping educators with the knowledge, confidence, and ethical grounding to uphold the highest standards.

 

The Centre’s development of a Vocational Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care enables educators to gain degree-level qualifications while continuing to work. Newly added to the Australian Qualifications Framework, this model combines academic rigour, accessibility, and practical experience - supporting professional growth without reducing workforce capacity.

 

Reflecting the diverse geographies and communities of South Australia, from metropolitan Adelaide to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, the Centre is contextualising Certificate III delivery to ensure training is both accessible and culturally responsive. In partnership with ACCOs, the Centre is co-designing programs that reflect local knowledge and priorities. For example, in the APY Lands, early childhood concepts are being translated into Pitjantjatjara and embedded with Anangu learning methodologies - ensuring language and cultural continuity.

 

Driving innovation and national workforce reform

 

The Centre’s forward-thinking approach is also reflected in a suite of current initiatives to support early career and experienced professionals:

 

• Introduction to Autism for Early Childhood Educators: A pilot supporting educators to better understand and work with autistic children, often before a formal diagnosis is made. This program includes both online and face‑to‑face learning for Certificate III students.
• Effective Mentoring in Early Childhood Education and Care: A 10‑week pilot program equipping experienced educators with skills to support new entrants and reduce attrition. Mentoring is being developed as a core pillar of workforce infrastructure - essential for wellbeing, retention and knowledge transfer.
• National Enquiry into Diploma Traineeship Uptake and Flexible Delivery Model: The Centre is leading a national conversation to improve uptake of Diploma-level qualifications and support training pathways that reflect educators’ lived realities. A flexible traineeship model, developed for pilot next year will include up-front Recognition of Prior Learning, workplace-based learning and assessment with trainer visits, self-paced online modules and scheduled workshops. Units of competency have been clustered into five themed groups covering safety, pedagogy, inclusion, and trauma informed practice; and professional compliance and leadership.

 

Supporting pathways into the profession 

 

The Centre is also focused on attracting potential educators to the sector and promotes informed decision making for school leavers, regional learners and career changers. The Kickstart your future course offers a free, self‑paced online introduction to the sector. Developed by the Centre, this short course helps prospective educators understand what the work entails and whether it’s the right fit - supporting informed decision-making and growing the talent pipeline.

 

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Connect 

 

The Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care invites educators, approved providers, sector stakeholders and prospective students to connect and collaborate. 

 

Subscribing to the Centre’s e‑Newsletter is the best way to stay informed about upcoming initiatives, opportunities for consultation, pilots, and sector news.

 

Learn more or enrol in the introductory course here.