Career pathways for Aboriginal peoples
Investing in the Aboriginal Early Childhood Workforce
South Australia is investing a record $5.8 million to support the growth, development and retention of the Aboriginal early childhood education workforce.
South Australia’s Aboriginal Early Childhood Workforce Strategy (2025 – 2027) was co-designed in partnership with local Aboriginal Communities to strengthen and grow the Aboriginal workforce within the early childhood sector.
South Australia's Aboriginal Early Childhood Workforce Strategy (2025-2027)
Improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, workforce and the sector
Growing Aboriginal workforce representation across Early Childhood Education and Care is vital for improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, and strengthening the Cultural safety, capability and inclusivity of the entire sector and its services.
Developed in partnership with Aboriginal leaders, Community representatives, and sector stakeholders, the strategy recognises the vital role of Aboriginal voices, knowledge, and Culture in shaping services that deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal children, families, and Communities.
Further information on initiatives within the strategy is included below.
Financial support, scholarships and grants for Aboriginal workforce
Delivered through the Qualify SA Aboriginal Pathways program, financial support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the following courses:
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education
- Diploma in Early Childhood Education
- Birth to 5 bachelor’s degree
- Birth to 5 master’s degree
- Birth to 5 graduate diploma (where the student has a teaching qualification).
Support is also available for trainees undertaking a certificate III or diploma. South Australian ECEC services who employ an Aboriginal financial support recipient, who is undertaking a traineeship are eligible for a $6,000 support payment.
Find out more about Financial Support for Aboriginal Students.
The Flying Start Aboriginal Career Development Scholarships recognise the importance of Aboriginal-led pathways into leadership, skill-building, and empowering individuals to shape their own career trajectories. These scholarships provide one-off grant funding of up to $15,000 to support Aboriginal people working in South Australia’s early childhood sector to pursue self-identified career development opportunities.
The grants aim to strengthen Aboriginal leadership, capability, and career progression by supporting individuals to access Culturally responsive learning, qualifications, mentoring, and other opportunities aligned to their professional development goals.
Grant funding is available to support early childhood education services to engage in local centre-based activities, access Aboriginal education resources, support Community connection, and strengthen the application of cultural knowledge.
These one-off grants or up to $20,000 also support early childhood education sector services to develop and retain Aboriginal staff working in their centre.
Find out more about Aboriginal Workforce Grants.
Recruitment, retention and recognition of Aboriginal staff
Empowering and supporting the early childhood education sector with the Practice Guide: Aboriginal Culturally Responsive Recruitment in Early Education. The practice guide was developed in partnership with an Aboriginal business to support the early childhood education sector to recruit in a culturally safe way that is responsive to the needs of Aboriginal Peoples.
All early childhood professionals are encouraged to undertake Aboriginal Cultural Safety training to help create more inclusive services for Aboriginal children, families and Communities.
Services that partner with the government to deliver universal 3-year-old preschool are required to ensure that educators working in the funded preschool room/s, and other staff in direct contact with families from these rooms (such as administration staff), undertake at least the foundation level of Aboriginal Cultural Safety training delivered by a supplier listed on the Preschool Boost Menu of Services.
Find out more about Aboriginal Cultural Safety Training.
A state-wide Aboriginal Professionals Network led by Tauondi Aboriginal College provides a culturally strong and collaborative space for Aboriginal professionals working at all levels within the sector to build stronger connections, share practice and support each other.
Find out more about the State-wide Aboriginal Professionals Network
To enquire, email: ngentle@tauondi.sa.edu.au
This award recognises an outstanding contribution to early childhood education and care that strengthens outcomes for Aboriginal children, families, and Communities. It celebrates an Aboriginal individual or a service whose work is guided by Culture, strong relationships, and connection with the local Aboriginal Community. Through everyday practice, leadership, advocacy or service wide approaches, recipients of this award demonstrate a strong understanding in Cultural responsiveness, Cultural safety, shared decision-making and a deep commitment to supporting Aboriginal children to thrive.
Learn more about the Flying Start Early Childhood Awards
Have a question?
Email the Aboriginal workforce team on OECD.ECWorkforceSupport@sa.gov.au