Additional supports

QualifySA

The QualifySA in Early Childhood program (QualifySA) provides financial support for South Australian residents undertaking qualifications in early childhood education to offset costs related to their study.

Flying Start Workforce Grants

The Flying Start Workforce Grants program provides early childhood workforce attraction and retention grants for regional, rural, and hard-to-staff communities in South Australia.

Funding is available for projects that foster collaboration between early childhood services, provide development and training opportunities and/or to conduct local workforce attraction and retention campaigns.

Early Childhood Leaders Forum

To support sector readiness and the implementation of 3-year-old preschool, the OECD will deliver two half-day Leaders Forums each year for Partner Services.

The forums provide an opportunity for leaders from Partner Services to collaborate, build leadership capability, and support the implementation of reform objectives. They will also strengthen the governance, leadership, and operational practices required to deliver high-quality Flying Start preschool programs.

Teacher Incentives​

The South Australian Government offers financial incentives to attract and retain ECTs to work in Partner Services. Two types of incentives are available: Individual Incentives and Location Incentives. For more information, visit Flying Start Teacher Incentives.

Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT)

Under the National Law, ECEC services must assess and document children’s learning and development. Historically the ECEC sector has not had access to a high-quality, validated, formative assessment tool to support teachers and educators to understand and support each child’s unique strengths, interests and abilities against national learning progressions.

Under the Preschool Reform Agreement, states and territories have agreed to work collaboratively with the Commonwealth to implement a new national Preschool Outcomes Measure. In South Australia we have elected to use the EYALT for this trial.

In 2026 and 2027, the trial will involve up to 250 ECTs to complete assessments for participating children. This will deepen and support a more complete understanding of children's learning progressions and strengthen transition statements. For more information, visit the OECD website.