This week, the Office for Early Childhood Development is launching the QualifySA in Early Childhood Financial Support Program, which invites South Australian residents to apply for financial assistance to offset costs related to approved early childhood study. An additional ‘Grow Your Own’ allowance of up to $10,000 will be available to support students in regional and remote areas who face additional barriers to accessing higher education.

This initiative is part of the government’s $96.6 million commitment to grow, upskill and diversify the early childhood workforce, ahead of the universal 3-year-old preschool roll-out in 2026.

The program is open to school leavers, career changers, existing students studying eligible early childhood qualifications, and educators looking to upskill.

Eligible individuals can apply for:

• up to $25,000 (before tax) in financial assistance to become early childhood teachers, and up to $34,000 (before tax) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (with an additional $10,000 available for people living and studying in regional and remote areas)
• up to $7,000 (before tax) in study support for Certificate III educators upskilling to become diploma-qualified educators, and up to $9,000 (before tax) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (with an additional $10,000 available for people living and studying in regional and remote areas).

Program guidelines and application details are available on the website.