The South Australian Government has launched a new $84 million funding initiative aimed at tackling early developmental challenges among preschool-aged children, as part of its broader reform to expand three-year-old preschool from 2026.
More than 200 preschool and long day care services have signed up to the new Preschool Boost program, which begins this week. The funding will allow participating centres to choose from over 100 evidence-based supports, including access to speech therapy, occupational therapy, educator training, and parenting programs.
Services will receive funding on an annual basis, with allocations determined by local socio-economic data. The approach is designed to ensure that areas with higher levels of disadvantage receive additional support.
This program follows findings from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, chaired by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which recommended stronger action to address early childhood developmental gaps across the state.
Education Minister Blair Boyer said the initiative was a key part of long-term changes to improve educational outcomes.
“The government’s rollout of preschool for three-year-olds marks an exciting chapter in early childhood for this state and the largest reform to education in decades,” Mr Boyer said.
“The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care set a very clear pathway for us to improve educational outcomes for young people.”
Recent national data from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) showed that almost one in four children in South Australia begin school with some form of developmental vulnerability. The new boost funding is designed to help reverse that trend by aligning supports to the five AEDC developmental domains, including physical health, language and social competence.
Mr Boyer said the program was part of a broader shift towards earlier, more targeted interventions.
“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,” he 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.”
The Office for Early Childhood Development will work directly with services through its Local Teams, helping centres interpret their AEDC data and select the most appropriate supports for their communities.
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