Educational Outcomes for Boys

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().3 April 2025).

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): I have been advised by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills that:

The state government established the Office for Early Childhood Development to deliver a range of early childhood reforms to reduce the rate of South Australian children entering school developmentally vulnerable.

These reforms provide a universal service offering for all children, with targeted intervention for children identified as being at risk of developmental vulnerability, including boys.

Under the reforms, all families will have improved access to child health and development checks to help identify children's developmental needs and connect families to additional supports where needed. Expanded early childhood parenting groups through the Child and Family Health Service will provide parents with expert advice and resources to support children with additional needs and developmental vulnerabilities.

The provision of 15 hours a week of universal high-quality, play-based three-year-old preschool will support children's learning and development, regardless of gender, and provide additional supports for children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage. The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) demonstrates that a higher percentage of boys are developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains than girls. As such, more boys will receive additional supports through these reforms.

Preschool Boost will support early childhood education services to do more to address developmental vulnerability aligned with the AEDC domains. Partner preschool services can use Preschool Boost funding to purchase allied health services and other quality programs from the Preschool Boost menu. It is tailored to meet the needs of three- and four-year-old children, their families and communities. 

Integrated hubs will also provide more community outreach and family support in locations of high developmental vulnerability.

With regard to the early childhood education and care workforce, the South Australian Early Childhood Workforce Strategy outlines the state government's investment of $96.6 million over four years to grow and support South Australia's early childhood workforce. This also includes support for quality teaching and learning in preparation for universal three-year-old preschool delivery.

The early childhood workforce will have increased access to high-quality professional development, contributing to the quality of educator practice and children's learning experiences to support their development.

Other initiatives prioritise the representation of diverse cultural, linguistic and social identities among educators and teachers in the early childhood education and care workforce. For example, the Flying Start Pathways Program aims to ensure early childhood workforce training programs deliver integrated career progression and wraparound support services targeting under-represented cohorts, including men.

This work builds on the focus we have had on increasing the number of male primary school teachers through $2 million in teaching scholarships, which is an election commitment being delivered by the Deputy Premier, Hon. Susan Close MP.