Nominations are now open for the inaugural Flying Start Early Childhood Awards, which recognise outstanding educators, leaders and services dedicated to ensuring South Australian children receive the best start in life.
The awards celebrate the workforce shaping the future of early childhood education, helping to raise the profile and professional standing of the sector.
Categories include individual honours for outstanding leaders, teachers and educators, service awards for uplifting quality in key areas and a dedicated award for an Aboriginal individual or service that has strengthened outcomes for communities.
It comes as a new program to boost the skills of early childhood educators and teachers delivering three-year-old preschool and improve quality across the sector will be implemented as part of the Government's landmark Flying Start reforms.
The $2.5 million professional development program, Enhancing Quality, will enable partner preschools to access further training and strengthen workforce capabilities critical to the $1.9 billion Flying Start initiative.
The program focuses on three key areas – educational program and practice, relationships with children, and leadership and governance – to improve developmental outcomes for children, lift standards and better equip staff.
Historically, accessing professional development has been a challenge for many in the early childhood education sector, which can impact the delivery of quality preschool and retention of experienced staff.
The Malinauskas Government is committed to increasing access to these opportunities and investing in educators and early childhood teachers who are central to the universal rollout of three-year-old preschool across the state.
Services are set to receive funding at the start of 2027, with extra investment in areas of greatest need including regional, remote and lower socio-economic areas.
It builds on the $10.9 million committed to bolster the early childhood education workforce, including establishing the Flying Start Pathways Program to help students complete their qualifications with tailored support and career guidance.
South Australians can nominate educators or services online. Finalists will be announced on Early Childhood Educators' Day, 2 September, before the Flying Start Early Childhood Awards event the following month.
As put by Lucy Hood
We're recognising the educators, leaders and services going above and beyond for South Australian children and families.
The passion, care and dedication shaping the future of early childhood education in our state is more important than ever as our Government fast-tracks delivery of three-year-old preschool.
When we invest in early childhood, we must also invest in the people who deliver it.
We know the early years are crucial for children's brain and social development and are providing staff more opportunities to develop their own skills to build a stronger sector.
As put by Office for Early Childhood Development Chief Executive Kim Little
These awards recognise the outstanding commitment and talents of our early childhood champions who are vital to improving outcomes for children and reducing the number of children entering school with developmental vulnerabilities.
Enhancing Quality will provide professional development support for South Australia's early childhood workforce, helping improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for young children.
Educators and early childhood teachers are the heart of the early childhood education reforms. Quality three-year-old preschool can't happen without the dedication, skill and care of early childhood education professionals.
