The Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments are investing $28 million to establish a TAFE Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care. This Centre will be located at TAFE SA’s Adelaide metropolitan campus and aims to be a leader in early childhood development skills.
The Centre of Excellence will focus on enhancing the skills and capabilities of early childhood education and care workers across Australia through information sharing, industry demonstrations, and resource development. It will collaborate with industry, universities, Jobs and Skills Councils, and unions to create alternative pathways into the sector, thus strengthening employment pipelines.
Flinders University and the University of South Australia will play key roles in designing and delivering new training products and apprenticeship pathways.
Key initiatives of the Centre include:
Innovating training for the Early Childhood Education and Care sector and accelerating the development of higher and degree-equivalent apprenticeship pathways.
Developing courses in collaboration with the sector and First Nation communities to support specialized community needs.
Partnering with sector experts to create and pilot professional development programs within childcare centers.
Working with the HumanAbility Jobs and Skills Council to establish and implement formal recognition of prior learning frameworks and tools.
Increasing the number of skilled workers in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector is crucial for ensuring the best start for the next generation.
The Albanese Government will contribute $11.5 million, matched by the Malinauskas Government, with an additional $5 million to expedite the creation of the Centre. This investment is part of the Employment White Paper’s Turbocharging TAFE Centres of Excellence initiative, aimed at addressing the urgent demand for early childhood education and care workers. Additionally, the Albanese Government and the States and Territories are investing $650 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement to establish up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in high-skill areas.
Statements from Key Officials
Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor:
“This Early Childhood Education and Care TAFE Centre of Excellence is a prime example of the Albanese Labor Government partnering with states to position TAFE at the core of vocational education and training. This Centre will enhance the VET sector by providing high-quality skills training for the education and care of our youngest Australians. It will foster collaboration between TAFEs, universities, and the sector, strengthening our early childhood education and care capabilities while meeting labor market demands.”
SA Minister for Education, Training, and Skills, Blair Boyer:
“The Malinauskas Labor Government’s commitment to education is evident with nearly $1.9 billion invested in early childhood education, including three-year-old preschool programs and workforce and infrastructure funding. This is the most significant educational reform in decades, aiming to reduce the percentage of South Australian children entering school developmentally vulnerable from 23.8% to 15% over 20 years. We are leading the nation in early childhood improvements, and it is fitting that the national TAFE Centre for Excellence in Early Childhood is based in South Australia. Our joint $28 million investment with the Albanese Labor Government will make this Centre a reality, building on our record investment in early years education.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr. Anne Aly:
“A sustainable early childhood education and care workforce is essential for the Albanese Government’s vision of a universal early learning system. We are supporting the sector by improving access to training and professional development opportunities and providing funding for wage increases. A robust early learning workforce ensures that all children, regardless of background or location, can benefit from early childhood education.”