Limestone Coast headlines pilot project

A PILOT program aimed at attracting more people into the early childhood sector, has been launched in Mount Gambier.

The Early Educators Workforce Attraction Pilot Program will employ up to 15 early childhood education trainees and will be hosted out to local employers, in a bid to tackle workforce shortages in the early childhood sector.

The Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, was in Mount Gambier earlier this month to launch the trial which will run in conjunction with the South Australian Skills Commission and group training organisation Group Training Employment (GTE).

It comes as the South Australian Government gets set to roll out three-year-old preschool across the state from next year.

“The government’s roll-out of preschool for three-year-olds marks an exciting chapter in early childhood for this state and the biggest change to education since the introduction of four-year-old preschool,” Minister Boyer said.

“We need to start the important work of growing our high-quality early childhood workforce not just in metro Adelaide, but in regional areas as well.

“This is a pivotal opportunity to build a strong, sustainable workforce that will benefit communities for years to come.

“This pilot program is a practical and timely step toward strengthening the workforce in the state’s southeast.

“By reducing barriers for employers and creating flexible training opportunities, we’re helping to attract more people into this essential sector.”

Research shows that early childhood is a critical time – 90 per cent of a child’s brain development has happened by the time a child is five years old – with an extra year of preschool designed to support all children across South Australia.

The Pilot Program provides financial incentives to host employers who engage trainees through GTE.

Host employers receive $5200 per trainee, paid in two instalments: the first at the start of the training contract and the second after six months of successful participation.

Importantly, the scheme will be open to trainees of all ages and aims to provide greater flexibility for both trainees and host employers, including the opportunity for trainees to gain experience across multiple early learning environments in the region.

South Australian Skills Commissioner Cameron Baker said the Early Educators Workforce Attraction Pilot Program was a smart, flexible solution to help grow the early childhood education workforce in the Limestone Coast.

“By supporting employers and trainees through the proven GTO model, we’re creating more pathways into the sector, particularly for those looking to start or change careers later in life,” Mr Baker said.

“It’s a great example of how local insights, industry collaboration and government support can work together to address regional skills challenges in a meaningful way.”