The first meeting of the Association of Child Care centres of South Australia was in 1968 when a few women who were providing child-minding services decided to get together. The women had no formal training in either child care or running an association, but felt the need to unite to protect their interests and share common beliefs and values.
Needing support to function at the level they desired, they looked to the SA Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide a secretarial service. In 1969 the first Association meeting was held at the Chamber.
When the various State organisations decided to form a National body (formerly the Australian Federation of Child Care Associations, now known as Childcare Associations Australia), the Chamber provided at no cost, the services of the Secretary to support the Association on a National level as Federal Secretary.
Over the years, the Association has been proud to be associated with playing an instrumental role the evolution of the industry, and in fact, the Association was instrumental in the development of the first Regulations for childcare centres in South Australia.
The Association was first to recognize the need for a childcare course, specifically developed for people working and wanting to work in childcare, and subsequently, worked with TAFE in its course development.
As childcare has grown into a huge community service industry, which employs approximately 90,000 people, so, the Association’s vision and scope has evolved. The Association is a highly respected and professional body, actively representing its members on Government committees, industry groups and other professional groups at both state and federal levels.
In March 1999 the members of the Association voted to move from the Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and align itself instead with the State Retailers Association of SA. In 200 the Members of the association voted to move the meetings to the Education and Development Centre and to operate independently.
In 2003 talks began with the Council of Private Child Care Centres of South Australia and the two associations merged in February 2004. State and federal members, state government, departmental and professional representatives attended the launch of a new name, Childcare SA.
This has ensured one strong united voice for the private sector in South Australia.