Your 60-Second Guide to the South Australian Department for Education 📚🚀
We read the 2023 Annual Report so you don’t have to. Use this rapid-fire brief to decide whether a career with SA Education is your next smart move.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: South Australia Department for Education
Location: 31 Flinders St, Adelaide SA 5000 (state-wide reach)
CEO: Prof Martin Westwell
Total Revenue: A$4.415 billion (2022-23 actual)
Total Number of Employees: ≈ 32,073 staff (25,504 FTE)
DID YOU KNOW? 🤖
SA Education was the first education system in Australia to trial a classroom-safe AI app in partnership with Microsoft, preparing students (and teachers!) for the digital jobs of tomorrow.
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO SA EDUCATION
Top 5 Academic Qualifications Most Suited
Bachelor of Education – mandatory for registered teachers.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care – key for preschool roles.
Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership – accelerates progression to Band A school-leadership positions.
Master of Inclusive Education – aligns with the Inclusive Education Support Program.
MBA or Master of Public Policy – valuable for strategy, finance and Skills SA divisions.
Top 5 Certifications Most Suited
SA Teacher Registration – legally required to teach.
Cert IV in Training & Assessment (TAE40122) – essential for VET/Skills SA trainers.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – prized for capital-build and ICT portfolios.
CPA / CA – supports $4 billion+ financial stewardship.
ITIL Foundation – relevant to ICT Services’ statewide infrastructure upgrades.
Top 5 Trades / Professions Most Suited
Electricians & ICT Technicians – maintain smart-classroom roll-outs.
Allied Health (Speech / OT / Psych) – bolster the 100-strong Mental Health & Learning Support team.
Bus Drivers (School Services) – critical for regional access.
Construction & Facilities Managers – oversee 5 new Technical Colleges build program.
Data Analysts – power evidence-based teaching and workforce insights.
Top 5 Skills Most Suited
Soft skills: Empathy, classroom management, culturally responsive practice, stakeholder engagement, leadership.
Technical skills: Curriculum design, data analytics (edAnalytics), Azure/365 administration, BIM for capital projects, financial modelling.
General skills: Report writing, procurement, risk management, community consultation, grant administration.
Top 5 Work Experiences Most Suited
Classroom teaching (any state or sector).
Project delivery in large public organisations.
VET program coordination or apprenticeship supervision.
Policy research on schooling or early childhood.
Complex ICT roll-outs across multiple sites.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: South Australia Department for Education
Name of CEO: Prof Martin Westwell
Location: State-wide (head office Adelaide)
Year Founded: 1875 (modern agency re-established 2018)
Main Mission & Purpose: Every child. Every chance. The department delivers world-class public education from birth to Year 12, empowering 185 000+ learners to thrive. Example: the new Country Education Strategy funds specialist teacher incentives so regional students can access the same subjects as city peers.
Main Duties: Operating 514 schools & 377 preschools; setting curriculum; regulating teachers; allocating ~$4.4 billion budget; building new technical colleges. A tangible impact: 4 000 mid-year-born children started preschool six months earlier under the 2023 intake reform.
Key Projects, Strategic Priorities & Future Plans:
Five Technical Colleges opening 2024-26.
AI classroom pilot to scale across schools.
7-Point Plan for Teaching Quality – converts >650 contract teachers to ongoing roles.
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Number of Employees: 32 073 headcount / 25 504 FTE
Total Number of Employees at Each Pay Level: Not publicly itemised in the 2023 report; however, executive counts (e.g., SAES1 = 71, SAES2 = 15) are disclosed.
Salary Bands (indicative 2023 rates):
Teachers (Tier 1–6): ~$80 k – $101 k p.a.
Band A School Leaders (A-4 to A-9): approx. $117 k – $180 k p.a.
SAES Executives: ~$163 k – $251 k p.a.
Average Salary: Teacher median sits around $92 k, with generous rural loadings.
Total Revenue: A$4.415 billion
Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ A$137 k
GETTING A JOB AT SA EDUCATION 🎯
Hot academic subjects & pathways
Certificate / Diploma Level: Early Childhood Ed, IT Support, Business Admin, Carpentry & Joinery (for Facilities trade roles).
Bachelor / Master Level: Primary / Secondary Teaching, Social Work, Engineering (ICT/Infrastructure), Finance, Data Science.
PhDs: Educational Psychology, Curriculum Innovation, Policy Evaluation.
In-demand Trades & Professions
Electricians, Carpenters, HVAC Techs (capital works)
Speech Pathologists & Psychologists
Bus Operators & Fleet Mechanics
Cyber-Security Analysts
Project Managers (engineer, ICT or property)
Valued Work Experiences
Teaching in low-SES or remote settings
Large-scale ICT migrations
VET program delivery
Budget oversight >A$10 m
Community engagement on capital builds
Skills the Department Loves
Soft skills: Adaptive communication, trauma-informed practice, leadership coaching, conflict resolution.
Technical skills: PowerBI, SharePoint, AI prompt-engineering for education, BIM, SAP finance.
General skills: Grant writing, procurement, WHS compliance, bilingual communication.
Hobbies & Interests That Align
Volunteering with youth groups, coding clubs, makerspaces, coaching junior sport, music tutoring, sustainability gardening – all translate into enriching co-curricular school life.
Want more information on this organisation? 📞
Contact SA Education
Address: 31 Flinders St, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8226 1000
Email: education.customers@sa.gov.au
Careers portal: https://jobs.sa.gov.au (filter “Department for Education”)
Annual Report & data: https://www.education.sa.gov.au
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