South Australia is poised for a significant shift in early childhood education with the announcement of a $715 million investment to revamp the sector. This has sparked a surge in demand for educators capable of nurturing young minds from birth to five years old. The University of South Australia (UniSA) is stepping up to meet this need with a groundbreaking new degree designed specifically for early childhood education.
The new Bachelor of Education Early Childhood (Birth to Five) is a three-year professional degree developed in response to the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. This course is set to produce job-ready educators equipped with the skills and knowledge to support the learning and development of young children during their formative years. Moreover, it aims to ensure inclusivity for children of diverse cultures and backgrounds across the state.
This degree, the first of its kind in South Australia, is currently open for applications for midyear entry in 2024. Professor Anne-Marie Morgan, Dean of Programs: Education Futures at UniSA, emphasises the importance of this initiative in addressing workforce shortages.
“Teaching is an incredibly rewarding profession, but we are facing significant workforce shortages both in South Australia and nationwide,” says Prof Morgan. “With the state government’s substantial investment in universal preschool and daylong childcare, the need for teachers, especially those skilled in the birth to five age range, has never been greater.”
Prof Morgan highlights that the new degree will provide students with access to the latest research supporting the development of young children. This includes insights into brain development, neurodiversity, and the crucial role of play in learning.
“The first five years of a child’s life are critically important as they lay the foundation for future learning. Currently, South Australia’s youngest citizens are more likely to be developmentally vulnerable than the Australian average when they start school. We need to address this disparity,” she says.
The new degree is tailored to meet both current and future workforce demands. Through this program, UniSA aims to cultivate a generation of professional and highly skilled teachers who can confidently support young children in reaching their full potential.
Accredited by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the degree can be completed in three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) at UniSA’s Magill, Mawson Lakes, Whyalla, and Mount Gambier campuses. Online study options are also available.
Following the Royal Commission’s recommendations, the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (TRB) is expected to recognise three-year, ACECQA-accredited ‘birth-to-five’ degrees, allowing graduates to be registered as teachers.
“Until now, ‘birth to five’ educators with a three-year degree could not register as teachers in South Australia. The revised TRB regulations will not only offer greater recognition for graduating teachers but also help them establish a specific early years teaching career pathway,” Prof Morgan explains.
UniSA’s commitment to early childhood education reflects a broader vision of nurturing every child’s potential during their most receptive years of learning. Prof Morgan hopes this new degree will enhance the appeal of early childhood education and attract dedicated individuals to the field.
“A degree in early childhood education is about shaping the future of individuals and societies by fostering early development at a crucial phase of life. At UniSA, we recognise the significant and rewarding intellectual work involved in early childhood teaching,” she concludes.
As South Australia embarks on this transformative journey in early childhood education, UniSA’s new degree stands at the forefront, ready to shape the educators who will nurture the state’s youngest minds.
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