From 6 June 2024, the Teachers Registration and Standards Regulations, 2021 were amended to now enable the registration of 3-year trained early childhood teachers. The very first registration of an early childhood teacher under the new Regulations took place in our office with Registrar, Leonie Paulson.

Sharon Johnstone had worked in various administrative roles until she had children of her own. She started as a Family Day Care provider in home when her own children were young.

Sharon enjoyed studying and began undertaking certificates and then diplomas to assist her in her childcare work. As her children grew and wanted a little space, Sharon began working on-site at a Child Care Centre (Goodstart). This led to her turning her mind to moving from an Early Childhood Educator to an Early Childhood Teacher.

Sharon started her teaching qualification in 2017. She became the first FIFO Early Childhood Educator working in Roxby Downs and after finishing her studies, (as of 24 June 2024) Sharon became South Australia’s first Provisionally Registered Early Childhood Teacher with an Early Childhood Condition.

Congratulations Sharon!

The amendment regulations support minimum qualification requirements for early childhood teachers holding an Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) approved qualification. The amendment will permit early childhood teachers who have completed a 3-year, Birth – 5 early childhood qualification to immediately register as a teacher with a condition on their registration. These new arrangements do not extend eligibility for teacher registration to holders of Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates approved by ACECQA.

The condition  limits 3-year early childhood trained teachers to teach in an early childhood setting, including pre-schools, kindergarten, early childhood learning centres and in delivering education programmes in out-of-school-hours care.

For more information, visit our website at: www.trb.sa.edu.au/Registering-to-Teach/early-childhood-teachers or take a look at our fact sheet.