A new qualification to strengthen the skills of those wanting to work in the education sector and support children’s wellbeing and development outside of school hours is being introduced in South Australia for the first time.
The qualification – Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care – will be delivered as part of the Malinauskas and Albanese Labor Governments’ Fee Free TAFE initiative.
It will provide key skills for those working or aspiring to work with school-aged children in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation care programs and has been developed in response to the Gillard Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
The new course will be offered from Semester 1, 2024 and will be delivered part-time over 18 months using a combination of online delivery and face-to-face workshops to enable those currently working in the industry to participate in the training.
The Malinauskas Government made improving access to high quality, affordable OSHC services a key term of reference for the Gillard Royal Commission.
The Final Report of the Royal Commission recognised the significant challenges faced by the OSHC sector to attain and retract staff with necessary qualifications.
The report recommended that the Government make urgent changes to qualification requirements to help address these issues, including recognising an OSHC specific qualification.
This new course comes as enrolments in TAFE SA soar by 65 per cent compared to two years ago as the Malinauskas Government continues to invest in the education sector and in delivering more skilled workers for South Australia.
For course and application information visit: www.tafesa.edu.au
As put by Blair Boyer
We want every South Australian family to have access to high quality out of school care and this new course will mean we have more carers equipped to support children’s wellbeing and development outside of school hours.
Out of school care is vitally important for working families and we have acted on the recommendation made by the Gillard Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care to modernise OSHC qualifications and address workforce challenges so more South Australian families can access out of school care.
As put by TAFE SA Chief Executive David Coltman
We’ve worked with the Department for Education to make this course available. It’s a great example of the way we work with industry to ensure the training we are delivering is relevant and addresses in-demand skills.
Vocational education and training has a vital role in developing a skilled workforce and at TAFE SA we provide high-quality training that is relevant and engaging for participants.
Our lecturers have industry knowledge and expertise in early childhood education and care and this knowledge and their experience will ensure outstanding delivery of this training program.
As put by Alicia Flowers OSHC SA and Director of Torrensville Primary School OSHC
It’s fantastic to see an OSHC specific qualification being delivered in South Australia for the first time.
OSHC SA has been advocating for the introduction of this qualification to support people to build a career in the OSHC sector, and to help address the workforce shortage faced by OSHC services right around the State.
We welcome the government’s commitment to improving access to high quality OSHC programs in public schools.
