SA Government invests $10.9 million to strengthen early childhood workforce in rural and regional areas

The South Australian Government has committed more than $10.9 million to expand and support the state’s early childhood education workforce, ahead of the rollout of universal three-year-old preschool from 2026.

The targeted investment focuses on regional, rural and hard-to-staff locations, aiming to improve educator supply and retention in areas that have traditionally faced workforce shortages.

A key component of the investment is $9.7 million for the Flying Start Pathways Program, delivered in partnership with Gowrie SA. The program combines career development pathways with tailored wraparound supports to help attract and retain early childhood educators and teachers. It includes initiatives to support students from underrepresented backgrounds to complete their qualifications and transition into the workforce.

More than $1.2 million in grants has also been awarded to services and professionals working in challenging contexts. This includes $500,000 in Flying Start Workforce Grants, distributed to services across the state to address local workforce needs.

Riverland Early Learning Centre is one of the recipients, using its funding to partner with a local registered training organisation to upskill the local workforce. SNAICC will also receive funding to build leadership capacity across nine Aboriginal-led early childhood services.

A further $720,000 has been allocated to Flying Start Professional Network Grants, supporting 11 recipients to establish or grow 14 professional networks. These networks aim to strengthen collaboration between early childhood professionals, allied health providers and community services.

Among the recipients, Tauondi Aboriginal Corporation has been awarded $185,000 to co-design a statewide network for Aboriginal early childhood professionals. Other grants include up to $57,000 for regional networks in the Eyre Peninsula and Limestone Coast, and up to $37,000 for metropolitan areas.

All grants were awarded through a competitive process and will be monitored to assess potential replication in other communities across South Australia.

Kim Little, Chief Executive of the Office for Early Childhood Development, said the initiative is critical to the success of the state’s three-year-old preschool reform.

“We need to grow a valued workforce of teachers and educators across all of South Australia if we are to give every three-year-old child the same access to two years of preschool,” Ms Little said.

“This is especially true for rural and regional communities, where families often face more limited options.”

A full list of grant recipients is available on the Office for Early Childhood Development website.