Market information summary
As system steward, the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) is publishing this Market Information Summary to share estimates of where new preschool capacity is needed to support the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool. This was committed as Action 1.1 of the Preschool Infrastructure Strategy, published in December 2024.
This Market Information Summary presents outputs from statewide preschool provision modelling, showing where there is anticipated unmet demand for 3- and 4-year-old preschool at the end of the 3-year-old preschool roll-out in 2032, modelled by geographical areas (Statistical Area 2, SA2).
The modelling will be updated each year as new information becomes available.
Please note, the scope of this modelling and market information summary is restricted to preschool demand and supply and does not include broader long day care (childcare) demand.
The OECD has opened a new grants program for not-for-profit providers - the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants - that will invest $40 million in projects over 4 years in areas needing additional preschool capacity.
To be eligible for a grant, providers must operate in an area showing unmet demand for preschool in this market information summary or provide supplementary evidence that their proposed project would service an area with unmet preschool demand, for example this could be evidence of unmet demand at a sub-SA2 level. Other eligibility requirements for grants are outlined in the Flying Start Infrastructure Grants guidelines.
Separate planning is underway for government preschool provision.
If you are a provider operating in South Australia with a planned infrastructure project, please reach out via OECD.Infrastructure@sa.gov.au
Projected unmet demand for preschool capacity
Below is a list of areas with their unmet demand category, description, region and sessional roll-out year.
SA2 name | Unmet demand category | Unmet demand description | OECD regions | Sessional roll-out year |
Munno Para West - Angle Vale | 5 | More than 3 rooms | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2029 |
Davoren Park | 5 | More than 3 rooms | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2029 |
McLaren Vale | 5 | More than 3 rooms | Region 6. Outer southern suburbs, Fleurieu Peninsula | 2029 |
Lewiston - Two Wells | 3 | 1-2 rooms | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2028 |
Smithfield - Elizabeth North | 3 | 1-2 rooms | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2029 |
Craigmore - Blakeview | 3 | 1-2 rooms | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2029 |
Kadina | 3 | 1-2 rooms | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2027 |
Port Pirie | 3 | 1-2 rooms | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2028 |
Christie Downs | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 6. Outer southern suburbs, Fleurieu Peninsula | 2029 |
Port Adelaide | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 2. Western suburbs | 2030 |
Port Augusta | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2028 |
Tatiara | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2027 |
Strathalbyn Surrounds | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 6. Outer southern suburbs, Fleurieu Peninsula | 2028 |
Naracoorte | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2027 |
Clare | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2028 |
Loxton | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2028 |
Berri | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2028 |
Waikerie | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2027 |
Peterborough - Mount Remarkable | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2026 |
Strathalbyn | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 6. Outer southern suburbs, Fleurieu Peninsula | 2028 |
Kingston - Robe | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 8. Riverland, Limestone Coast | 2027 |
Whyalla | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 7. York Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback | 2028 |
Barossa - Angaston | 2 | Up to 1 room | Region 5. Outer northern suburbs, Barossa Valley | 2028 |
Drop down information for all areas – by OECD region
A drop-down regional list is provided to help you find the areas you are interested in, and whether the areas are eligible for preschool infrastructure grants.
How to read the maps
The maps published on this page show estimated unmet demand for preschool in each SA2 area for 2032. Areas without unmet demand are coloured in grey, and areas with estimated unmet demand are represented with graduated pink colours. The darker colour represents a higher level of estimated unmet demand, per the key below.
To check the SA2 of an address, you may use the public Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Maps tool, selecting the 2021 Statistical Area Level 2 boundaries and using the search function.
Disclaimer
All data presented in this Market Summary are estimates only and are based on the best information available to the Office for Early Childhood Development at the time that this document is published. They are published on an as-is basis and are for informational purposes only. They are subject to adjustment in response to market forces and as new data and other relevant information becomes available. As this information is modelled and presented at a Statistical Area 2 (SA2) level, it is acknowledged that the geographic size of the estimates varies, encompassing larger areas in regional and remote South Australia. The data may under- or over- estimate the need for additional preschool capacity in a given location. As a result, operational and business decisions should not be made solely based on this the information contained within this document. Any use of this data is solely at the risk of the user. The Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Office for Early Childhood Development, the State of South Australia, its agencies, instrumentalities, employees and contractors disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect to anything or the consequence of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this information.