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    Early childhood services

    Facilitating long day care accessibility

    Early childhood education and care services can be hard to access for some families, particularly in regional and remote areas. Childcare deserts, where there is a lack of long day care options, can be a barrier to helping parents and carers return to work and a constraint on economic opportunities in these communities.

    The Government of South Australia is advocating for national efforts to help families facing gaps in coverage of long day care services. This includes strongly calling on the Australian Government to prioritise a better funding model to address childcare deserts, following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Productivity Commission inquiries.

    The state government will continue to provide facilitation supports to regional communities with gaps in access to long day care, including advice and support for developing business cases.

    The Department for Education is supporting the establishment of family day care services in priority regional and rural communities.

    Child health and development checks for children aged birth to 5 years

    Child health and development checks in the early years are an important way to monitor children’s health and development, identify strengths, celebrate milestones, spot any concerns early, and connect families with information, support, local services and programs.

    We are investing in child health and development checks to make them more accessible for families.

    Checking in on your child’s development

    The best way to keep track of your child’s development is to book them in for health and development checks at the recommended milestones:

    • 1 to 4 weeks
    • 8 weeks
    • 6 to 9 months
    • 12 months
    • 18 to 24 months
    • 3 years
    • 4 to 5 years.

    A child health and development check considers how your child is developing across a range of areas, including:

    • listening and talking skills
    • social skills and behaviour
    • motor skills (both large movements and small movements)
    • learning, thinking and problem-solving skills
    • growth (such as their height, weight, and teeth).

    You can book a free child health and development check through the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS). For more information, visit the CaFHS website or call 1300 733 606 to book an appointment. Checks may also be available at your long day care or preschool, so be sure to check with your provider. Interpreters and translators can be made available. You can also book a check through your GP or local health care provider (fees may apply).

    Another useful resource is the Early Years SA app - a go to for trusted information about child health, learning, development and wellbeing from birth to 5 years. You can download the app on the  Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

    Child in jumper playing in a mud kitchen with a ladel and dirt-filled metal bowls

    Greater flexibility in government preschools

    A new model of wrap-around care, Kindy Care, is being trialled at 20 South Australian preschools from July 2024.

    Kindy Care is designed to provide greater flexibility, accessibility, and support for families, by increasing care outside of the regular preschool operating hours.

    Three operational models will be trialled in different communities and service settings. These are:

    • the Department for Education operating the service (similar to rural care)
    • third-party providers to provide the service
    • in-venue family day carer to provide the service.

    The trials will support children to maintain continuity, reduce transitions and engage in out of hours care appropriate to their developmental needs.

    It’s expected that the trials will also provide valuable feedback to determine a broader roll-out for Kindy Care in the future.