Local Teams to support early childhood reforms
Statewide network of Local Teams guiding communities through early childhood reforms
A statewide network of Local Teams is bringing the early childhood reforms to life across diverse communities of South Australia.
Local Teams live and work in the communities they serve, to create stronger, trusted relationships with:
- local service providers
- early childhood teachers
- leaders and educators
- community groups and representatives and
- government agencies.
What Local Teams bring to early childhood reform implementation
The Office for Early Childhood Development’s (OECD) Local Teams support the early childhood education sector to implement and embed the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool and other changes to the early childhood system. The teams are based in the regions they work with. They bring expertise in early childhood education, stakeholder engagement, and building community connections, and provide a crucial link between policy decisions and local implementation. This supports access and participation in preschool for all eligible children.
A recommendation of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, Local Teams bring a deep understanding of the unique needs within local communities. Working in partnership with service providers, they ensure opportunities for individual communities and services are understood and captured. They respond quickly to emerging opportunities and challenges, supporting strong outcomes for communities.
The network is made up of 8 Local Teams dedicated to regions across South Australia. The OECD has carefully designed the regions to account for the number and diversity of early childhood service providers and community needs. The regions are detailed in the accordion menu below. The black dots mark early childhood service locations.
Included in region 1 are the areas of: Adelaide, North Adelaide, Beaumont - Glen Osmond, Burnside - Wattle Park, Toorak Gardens, Norwood, Payneham - Felixstow, St Peters - Marden, Nailsworth - Broadview, Prospect, Walkerville, Paradise - Newton, Rostrevor – Magill, Northgate – Northfield, Windsor Gardens.
Included in region 2 are the areas of: Beverley, Flinders Park, Henley Beach, Hindmarsh - Brompton, Royal Park - Hendon - Albert Park, Seaton - Grange, West Lakes, Woodville - Cheltenham, Dry Creek - South, Largs Bay - Semaphore, North Haven, Port Adelaide, The Parks, Torrens Island, Adelaide Airport, Fulham, Lockleys, Plympton, Richmond, West Beach, Enfield - Blair Athol, Mawson Lakes - Globe Derby Park, Pooraka - Cavan.
Included in region 3 are the areas of: Goodwood - Millswood, Unley – Parkside, Brighton, Glenelg, Edwardstown, Hallett Cove, Marino - Seaview Downs, Mitchell Park, Morphettville, Sheidow Park - Trott Park, Warradale, Belair, Bellevue Heights, Blackwood, Colonel Light Gardens, Mitcham, Panorama.
Included in region 4 are the areas of: Athelstone, Valley View - Gilles Plains, Golden Grove, Greenwith, Highbury - Dernancourt, Hope Valley - Modbury, Modbury Heights, Redwood Park, St Agnes – Ridgehaven, Ingle Farm, Para Hills, Adelaide Hills, Aldgate - Stirling, Hahndorf - Echunga, Lobethal - Woodside, Mount Barker and surrounds, Nairne, Uraidla - Summertown.
Included in region 5 are the areas of: Gawler - North, Gawler - South, Lewiston - Two Wells, Craigmore - Blakeview, Davoren Park, Elizabeth, Elizabeth East, Munno Para West - Angle Vale, One Tree Hill, Smithfield - Elizabeth North, Virginia - Waterloo Corner, Dry Creek – North, Parafield, Parafield Gardens, Paralowie, Salisbury, Salisbury East, Salisbury North, Barossa - Angaston, Light, Lyndoch, Mallala, Nuriootpa, Tanunda.
Included in region 6 are the areas of: Aberfoyle Park, Aldinga, Christie Downs, Christies Beach, Clarendon, Coromandel Valley, Flagstaff Hill, Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills, Hackham West - Huntfield Heights, Happy Valley, Happy Valley Reservoir, Lonsdale, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale - East, Morphett Vale - West, Reynella, Seaford - Seaford Meadows, Seaford Rise - Moana, Willunga, Woodcroft, Goolwa - Port Elliot, Strathalbyn and surrounds, Victor Harbor, Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island.
Included in region 7 are the areas of: Clare, Gilbert Valley, Goyder, Wakefield - Barunga West, Jamestown, Peterborough - Mount Remarkable, Port Pirie and surrounds, Kadina, Moonta, Wallaroo, Yorke Peninsula - North, Yorke Peninsula - South, Ceduna, Eyre Peninsula, Kimba - Cleve - Franklin Harbour, Le Hunte - Elliston, Port Lincoln, West Coast, Western, Whyalla, Whyalla - North, APY Lands, Coober Pedy, Outback, Port Augusta, Quorn - Lake Gilles, Roxby Downs.
Included in region 8 are the areas of: Kingston - Robe, Millicent, Naracoorte, Naracoorte Surrounds, Penola, Tatiara, Wattle Range, Grant, Mount Gambier - East, Mount Gambier - West, Barmera, Berri, Karoonda - Lameroo, Loxton and surrounds, Mannum, Renmark and surrounds, The Coorong, Waikerie, Murray Bridge and surrounds.
A Regional Manager, Early Childhood Partnerships, leads each Local Team. Two Senior Implementation Partners, Early Childhood support this manager. Local Teams will continue to grow from July 2025.
Services Local Teams provide
To help early childhood service providers understand and implement the reforms, Local Teams:
- guide the implementation of 3-year-old preschool and quality uplift activities
- share resources to build understanding of the early childhood reform for services, families and communities
- provide information in response to queries
- support services to problem solve and share practical examples of solutions to issues or barriers services are facing to respond to the reforms
- connect service providers with other services and community organisations in the region, both formally through Professional Networks and informally
- listen to services and share feedback on local community needs to central policy and program areas to inform and refine policy and program decisions.
Contact
We look forward to introducing Local Teams at visits to early childhood services and community events from early 2025.
To contact Local Teams please email oecd.localteams@sa.gov.au