Expanding access to early education in regional South Australia: New investment brings services closer to families

Access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) is central to children’s development, family wellbeing and community prosperity. In a significant joint commitment, the Albanese and Malinauskas governments have announced a major expansion of early learning infrastructure in regional South Australia, delivering new and expanded services where families need them most.

The initiative is part of the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, a federal investment designed to increase the availability of early learning services in areas of need, including regional, rural and outer metropolitan communities. The recent announcement confirms new projects in Kadina, Kimba and Quorn that will increase the supply of not‑for‑profit early learning places in these regions.

Under the funding agreement:

Kadina Child Care Centre will be transformed into a larger early learning hub. The Albanese Government is investing $5 million, with the South Australian Government contributing $3.2 million. The expansion will increase the centre’s capacity by 109 places, lifting total services to 162 places for families on the Copper Coast.
Kimba Community Kindergarten on the Eyre Peninsula will receive $330,000 to expand its facilities and introduce 20 new centre‑based day care places, responding to demand for accessible early learning in a regional community.
Quorn Kindergarten in the Flinders Ranges will also receive $330,000 to create 20 additional places, strengthening local service capacity for families living in and around this regional centre.

Both Kimba Community Kindergarten and Quorn Kindergarten are public early learning centres operated by the South Australian Department for Education. All three projects are expected to be completed by early 2028.

The Building Early Education Fund is part of a broader national effort to make early learning more accessible, particularly in locations where service choice has been limited. The investments will not only provide more early learning places but also support workforce participation, economic participation and child development outcomes across regional South Australia.

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting that expanded long day care services will bring significant additional early learning opportunities to regional communities and help families balance life and work.

Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education, emphasised that every child deserves access to quality early learning “no matter their postcode”, and that the Building Early Education Fund supports more children to get the best possible start in life.

South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer underscored the value of this state–federal partnership, which will provide families across the Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Ranges and Yorke Peninsula with greater flexibility and choice about work, study and participation in local community life.

Senator for South Australia Karen Grogan added that investing in childcare is “critical for working families in regional South Australia” and will support communities to thrive.

This regional expansion complements broader early childhood reforms underway in South Australia. The state government has committed to rolling out universal access to three‑year‑old preschool, beginning in January 2026 and continuing through to 2032, a reform informed by recommendations from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.

Alongside expanded service infrastructure, the state has also invested in workforce development, facility upgrades and professional support to ensure that quality early learning can be delivered effectively across diverse communities.

The announcement of expanded early learning facilities in Kadina, Kimba and Quorn demonstrates the tangible outcomes of targeted infrastructure funding and collaborative governance. By increasing service capacity in regional areas, this initiative supports families, strengthens local economies and contributes to a fairer, more inclusive early education system across South Australia.

For more information about the Building Early Education Fund and related early childhood initiatives, visit the Department of Education website.