The Australian and South Australian governments are jointly investing $28 million over 5 years to establish the Centre through the National Skills Agreement.
Increasing the number of skilled workers for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector is vital to ensure South Australia and Australia have access to services that support the development of foundational skills for Australian children. Building these skills helps ensure the best start for our next generation.
The Centre will be a skills leader in early childhood development. It will:
- Lift the skills and capability of early childcare workers for essential care services on a national scale. It will do that through information sharing, industry demonstration, and resource development for organisations and educators across Australia.
- Work with South Australia TAFE, Flinders University, University of South Australia and industry stakeholders to equip Australians with the skills needed to lift the ECEC sector.
- Support the acceleration of commitments to Closing the Gap by partnering with First Nations stakeholders to customise and translate curriculum and learning resources.
The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training, said, “The TAFE Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care is a great example of the Australian Government partnering with states to place TAFE at the heart of the vocational education and training sector.”
The Centre builds on the existing work across South Australia since the release of the Report from the 2022 Royal Commission into ECEC.
The $28 million joint investment includes an additional $5 million from the Australian Government under the Turbocharging TAFE Centres of Excellence initiative. This initiative will accelerate the creation of the Centre and help meet the urgent demand for the essential childcare workforce.
The Centre of Excellence is the fourth to be established under the Nationals Skills Agreement.
Background information
TAFE Centres of Excellence will increase collaboration between TAFEs, through partnerships with employers, unions, universities and other stakeholders. They will deliver the skills people need for good, secure work and careers.
The Australian Government is investing $325 million under the 5-year National Skills Agreement to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence. Each Centre of Excellence will focus on high skills needs to help deliver a skilled workforce for strategically important industries.
More information
- Visit the TAFE Centres of Excellence page
- Visit the National Skills Agreement page
- Read the Minister’s media release