Office for Early Childhood Development Act 2024 (SA)

South Australia Office for Early Childhood Development Act 2024 An Act to provide for an Office for Early Childhood Development, and for other purposes.

Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Interpretation 4 Meaning of early childhood development system Part 2—Office for Early Childhood Development 5 Office for Early Childhood Development 6 Functions 7 Additional functions and principles in respect of Aboriginal children 8 Committees 9 Delegation Part 3—Information gathering and sharing 10 Chief Executive may require State authority to provide report 11 Chief Executive may require information 12 Sharing of information between certain entities 13 Interaction with Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016 Part 4—Miscellaneous 14 False and misleading statements 15 Confidentiality 16 Victimisation 17 Protections, privileges and immunities 18 Regulations and fee notices Legislative history

The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows: Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title This Act may be cited as the Office for Early Childhood Development Act 2024. 2—Commencement This Act comes into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation. 3—Interpretation In this Act— Aboriginal child or Aboriginal person means a child or person (as the case requires) who— (a) is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; and (b) regards themselves as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (or, in the case of a young child, is regarded as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by a member of their family or community); and (c) is accepted as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by a relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, (and a reference to Aboriginal, or an Aboriginal family or organisation, is to be construed accordingly); Chief Executive means the Chief Executive of the Office for Early Childhood Development, and includes a person acting in that position; Department has the same meaning as in the Education and Children's Services Act 2019; early childhood development system—see section 4; Office for Early Childhood Development or Office means the Office for Early Childhood Development referred to in section 5; State authority means— (a) a person who holds an office established by an Act; or (b) a public sector agency (within the meaning of the Public Sector Act 2009); or (c) a local council; or (d) any incorporated or unincorporated body— (i) established for a public purpose by an Act; or (ii) established for a public purpose under an Act (other than an Act providing for the incorporation of companies or associations, co‑operatives, societies or other voluntary organisations); or (iii) established, or subject to control or direction, by the Governor, a Minister of the Crown or any instrumentality or agency of the Crown or a local council (whether or not established by or under an Act or an enactment); or (e) any other entity, or entity of a class, prescribed by the regulations, but does not include— (f) the Guardian for Children and Young People; or (g) the Commissioner for Children and Young People; or (h) the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People; or (i) any other entity prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph. 4—Meaning of early childhood development system (1) For the purposes of this Act, a reference to the early childhood development system will be taken to be a reference to any system or systems that contribute to or affect the development of children in early childhood, and in particular (but not limited to) health services, human services and education and care services provided in early childhood. (2) To avoid doubt, the early childhood development system includes infrastructure and services, whether provided by the State, or by communities, local government providers or non‑government providers.