Help shape the future of early childhood learning and care in your region

Families, carers and employers: share your thoughts on the availability of early childhood education and care across the Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains region.

Your feedback will help build a clearer picture of what families need, where gaps exist, and what is preventing services from expanding.

The findings will support evidence-based planning and advocacy to the Australian Government by councils, government and service providers to improve access to quality early learning and care so children thrive, families can balance work and life, and local businesses benefit from stronger workforce participation.

How to participate:

This is an online survey you can do at anytime.

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and your input will help ensure early learning and care services evolve in step with local needs now and into the future.

The survey closes on Friday 6 March.

Take the survey

Prefer to share your feedback in person?

If you’d rather talk through your experience face-to-face, you’re warmly invited to attend one of the community drop-in sessions happening across the region next week.

These informal sessions are an opportunity to share your challenges, ideas and experiences directly with the project team.

Drop-in session dates and locations:

  • Gawler — Tuesday 3 March, 2–3pm
    Civic Centre (public space between cafe and library), 89-91 Murray St, Gawler.
  • Lyndoch Library — Wednesday 4 March, 1:45–2:45pm
    29 Barossa Valley Way, Lyndoch.
  • Mallala Council Chamber — Thursday 5 March, 9:30–10:30am
    2A Wasleys Road, Mallala.
  • Two Wells Council Chamber — Thursday 5 March, 11:30am–12:30pm
    65 Old Port Wakefield Road, Two Wells.
  • Tanunda CWA Hall — Thursday 5 March, 2–3pm
    70 Murray Street, Tanunda.
  • Kapunda Library — Friday 6 March, 2–3pm
    Community Lounge, 51/53 Main Street, Kapunda.

No registration is required — just drop in at a time and location that suits you.

Whether you complete the survey online or attend a session in person, your input will help shape the future of early childhood education and care in our region.

About the Early Childhood Education & Care Survey

The study is a joint project commissioned by Regional Development Australia Barossa Gawler Light Adelaide Plains (RDABGLAP) and RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island (RDAAHFKI). CELA has been engaged to assess early childhood education and care supply and demand and identify service gaps. The study is funded by the South Australian Government’s Office for Early Childhood Development.

The research also supports South Australia’s move to universal three-year-old preschool by 2032, which is expected to increase demand for early learning services.

Read our media release.