As the Murraylands and Riverland Regional Roadmap and Strategic Plan highlights, the region “has among the poorest levels of educational attainment in South Australia” (RDA, 2010: 84).  Comparing educational attainment by SGR Murraylands and Riverland have approximately 23,300 people whose highest level of educational attainment is year 11 or lower in 2006. 

 
The region acknowledges that people with low educational attainment are more vulnerable to periods of unstable employment, unemployment or being out of the labour force altogether, unless they are able to improve their foundation skills.  Increasing workforce participation requires improved access to training and improving the attainment of qualifications.

The lack of literacy and numeracy skills associated with low educational attainment was highlighted as a major issue during the stakeholder forum session undertaken in the Murraylands Network Region in March 2011.  The Murraylands South Australia Works Network has identified for 2011-14 the need for career development services and foundation skills programs to address low levels of regional educational attainment, and post school qualifications to increase workforce participation.

The following plans, outline the South Australia Works initiatives:

Murraylands and Riverland Strategic Plan

Murraylands Action Plan

Riverland Action Plan