The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a nationwide data collection of early childhood development at the time children commence their first year of full-time school. AEDC collects data relating to five key areas of early childhood development referred to as ‘domains’:

• Physical health and wellbeing
• Social competence
• Emotional maturity
• Language and cognitive skills (school-based)
• Communication skills and general knowledge

The AEDC records, in each domain, the percentage of children who are developmentally on track.
This report focuses on the students who are developmentally on track in all five AEDC domains.

Click the legend to include other states

• The percentage of Aboriginal children who were 4-6 years old and who were developmentally on track in all five AEDC domains in SA has been slowly increasing in the past four testing years, 26.8% in 2009 and 31.3% in 2021.
• SA has been lower than the national average since 2012.
• In 2021, 31.3% of 4-6 year old Aboriginal children were developmentally on track in all AEDC domains in SA, in comparison to 34.3% nationally.
• SA has a higher percentage of developmentally on track 4-6 year olds compared with NT in all testing periods.

In 2021:

• A higher percentage of female Aboriginal SA students were developmentally on track in all domains, compared to male Aboriginal SA students: 38% vs 24%.
• Individuals in SA from the highest and median socioeconomic bands were more likely to be developmentally on track: 45% of the highest SEIFA category are developmentally on track compared with 27% in the lowest SEIFA category.
• Individuals from very remote locations in SA were statistically lower in students being developmentally on track to all other areas in SA: 5.1% of very remote individuals were developmentally on track in comparison to 36% from metropolitan Adelaide.

Data Source: Closing the Gap: Information Repository

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to eligible Australians, including children and young people, with permanent and significant disability for the supports and services they need.
In quarter 4 of 2021-22 in SA:
• 524 Aboriginal children (birth to six years inclusive) had an approved NDIS plan
• 30 Aboriginal children (birth to six years inclusive) received early childhood early intervention supports.

Data Source: NDIS Tailored Data Request