South Australia will invest nearly $715 million over the next five years to provide preschool for three-year-olds. This funding, part of the upcoming state budget, aims to develop the necessary workforce and offer 30 hours per week of preschool for children most at risk of developmental delays.
The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, released a report last year outlining how to fulfill Labor’s election promise to offer preschool to three-year-olds by 2026. The government confirmed it is on track to start this initiative on time.
Next year, two pilot sites will open for preschool for three and four-year-olds in Port Pirie and Adelaide’s northern suburbs. The program will expand gradually over six years, based on location and other factors, until it is fully available by 2032.
Premier Peter Malinauskas highlighted the significance of this initiative, saying, “We’re adding a whole new year of public education, benefiting young people and their parents forever. Over 23% of young South Australians begin school with some form of developmental delay. Reducing this to 15% will change thousands of lives.”
However, this target will take 20 years to achieve. The funding will also support major economic projects, such as the AUKUS nuclear submarine construction. “The children attending preschool today could be building the nuclear submarines of the future if we invest in them,” Malinauskas said.
The government will create 20 “integrated hubs” and partner with existing long daycare centers. Additionally, $14 million will help Aboriginal communities prepare for three-year-old preschool.
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan called the funding “one of the key announcements” of this year’s budget, emphasizing its transformative impact on education and economic opportunities.
Education Minister Blair Boyer noted a $56 million workforce fund included in the investment. He acknowledged the challenge of recruiting the necessary staff but mentioned efforts to change qualifications, offer fee-free courses, and bring courses back to TAFE.
Boyer estimated that delivering this commitment would require over 1,500 staff, including 880 early childhood workers, 800 early childhood teachers, and 120 other staff members.
Opposition Leader David Speirs expressed concerns about the difficulty of assembling such a large workforce. He suggested looking nationwide and overseas to recruit workers, potentially offering relocation costs and other incentives.
