
Although renowned as a tourist destination, it is also a place families call home.
Schooling, Pre-school and Kindy and Childcare
Coober Pedy Area School is a complex and unique school ranging from Preschool to year 12 in the outback of South Australia. The co-educational school serves approximately 240 students in the area of which represent 49 different cultures with one third being made up of Aboriginal Students, and its nearest neighbours are 2, 3 and 5 hours away in each direction. The school incorporates a Child Parent Centre Pre-School on site, library, computer room and gymnasium.
In addition to the Coober Pedy Preschool which is a part of the Area School, Mini Gems Children's Centre is a Child Care Centre catering to children from the ages 0 - 5. The centre is conveniently located adjacent to the Coober Pedy Area School and feels that ALL parents have a right to quality child care that is sensitive to the needs of the child and is provided within a safe, caring and healthy environment.
Vocational Education & Universities
TafeSA has its own campus in Coober Pedy.
Employment Prospects in Coober Pedy
The service sector provides for a substantial share of jobs in Coober Pedy, in Health Care and Social Assistance, Tourism, Public Administration and Safety, Retail Trade and Education, which collectively account for almost three-quarters (71.5%) of local employment. The Health Care and Social Assistance sector employs more people than any other industry in Coober Pedy, accounting for almost 20% of all jobs compared to 9% of jobs across the wider Far North Region. Over half of these health care sector jobs (or 11% of total employment in Coober Pedy) are in Health Care Services, with the remainder (8% of total employment) in the Residential Care and Social Assistance sub-sector.
The public service is the third-largest provider of jobs in Coober Pedy (13% of the total). Coober Pedy’s Public Administration and Safety sector includes local government services (the District Council of Coober Pedy), police, fire protection and emergency services and other regulatory services.
The tourism industry is an amalgam of activities across various sectors including Retail Trade, Accommodation and Food Services, Arts and Recreational Services and Transport, Postal and Warehousing and Administrative and Support Services. The total value of Coober Pedy’s tourism output is estimated at $23.8 million, which is 14.5% of the value of Coober Pedy’s total output. Coober Pedy’s tourism industry is one of its largest employers, accounting for 18 per cent of local jobs (and 8% of jobs across the wider Far North Region).