Executive summary
About this strategy
The Strategy is a cornerstone of the state’s early childhood education reforms. It responds directly to the recommendations of the 2023 Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, ensuring that the universal rollout of 3-year-old preschool from 2026 empowers Aboriginal children and their families.
Aboriginal children in South Australia have benefited from access to 2 years of public preschool since 1988, providing a strong foundation for their learning and development. This Strategy strengthens this foundation by centring Aboriginal voices, perspectives and leadership in preschools for families, to empower Aboriginal children to thrive as they grow.
Developed through Aboriginal-led co-design across the 6 South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament regions and governed by the Aboriginal Co-design Governance Group formed for this purpose, the Strategy reflects a strong and consistent message from Communities: early childhood reform must be shaped with Aboriginal peoples, not for Aboriginal peoples.
Building on the legacy of Aboriginal-led preschool programs and decades of advocacy, this Strategy aligns to an Aboriginal Co Design Governance Group developed Theory of Change that defines the elements required to deliver on our shared vision that all Aboriginal children in South Australia thrive.
Theory of Change alignment | Existing initiatives | New initiatives |
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System and service level | All preschools are Culturally responsive, and there is more proactive and positive engagement with Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing | Aboriginal Cultural Safety Training Aboriginal Early Childhood Workforce Strategy | Elders in Residence |
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Early childhood education and care and other family services are well connected | ACCO Integrated Hubs Child Health and Development Screening | SA Early Years Support Service + Advocacy |
There is accountability to Aboriginal Communities and commitment to Indigenous Data Sovereignty | Governance | Accountability Framework Co-designed Evaluation Framework |
Child and family level | Families understand child development and are more aware of the benefits of 2 years of preschool | Words Grow Minds First Nations campaign Preschool Hours Uplift (Department for Education) | SA Aboriginal Preschool Communication Strategy OECD Aboriginal Branding Aboriginal Playgroup Strategy |
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Families have more choice about attending a well-supported Aboriginal Community controlled service | Sector Strengthening Flying Start Infrastructure Grants Program - ACCO stream | Tailored ACCO Funding Models Strengthening ACCOs Infrastructure Fund |
Barriers to engagement are reduced | | Community Liaison Officers (Linkers) Fee Relief Early Childhood Education and Care Enrolment and Administrative Process Review (Department for Education) |
Families are decision makers | Enter for Success Strategy (Department for Education) | Place-Based Self-Determination Funds |
