PARTS of Gippsland have been labelled childcare deserts including Wonthaggi and Inverloch.
Nationals’ MP Melina Bath says families have for years been struggling to secure childcare places which are crucial to enable predominately working women to return to the workforce.
“Shockingly in towns like Inverloch and Wonthaggi, there can be as little as only one childcare place available for every five children.”
The Nationals childcare policy is being developed following extensive analysis of a report titled ‘Beyond Urban Borders’ which investigates access to childcare in regional Victoria using statistical data, community responses and interviews with local childcare providers.
The study focused on centre-based day care, often just called day care or childcare which is subsidised by the Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy and is the service most used by children and families.
Ms Bath expressed her concern with the State Government’s inaction in resolving childcare deserts plaguing regional Victoria.
“In recent months Labor has abandoned its plans to build more childcare facilities which has a massive impact on the future of our rural towns with families forced to travel or relocate to improve childcare access.”
South Gippsland currently has more than thirty early childhood education positions vacant including kindergarten teachers, early childhood educators, assistants, support workers and outside school hours care educators in Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Korumburra, Toora, Port Welshpool and Foster.
The ‘Beyond Urban Borders’ report found parents spend more on average educating children aged under five than sending their children to private primary schools.
The Australian Investment in Education: Early Childhood Education and Care report from education policy think tank the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University provides conservative estimates of the out-of-pocket parental costs and government funding spent on childcare and preschool places.
Two parents on an average Australian income of $85,000pp will spend more out-of-pocket on child care ($5949) compared to a family sending their child to an independent school (av. $5782), a Catholic school (av. $1900) or government school (av. $336) if they are using childcare for a similar amount of hours as a child attending primary school.
About nine million Australians or 35 per cent of the population live in neighbourhoods classified as childcare deserts where there are more than three children per childcare place or less than 0.333 places per child aged four or under.
The Nationals are working to address the ongoing childcare crisis in regional Victoria by developing a specialised policy initiative and are actively seeking input from the local community including educators, parents, family members and service providers.
“Sharing your experiences with childcare is crucial to ensuring the policy recognises and addresses the ongoing challenges within the sector for our regional families,” according to Melina Bath.
Those interested in contributing to The Nationals’ childcare and early learning policy can contact Ms Bath’s office directly at 5174 7066 or via email at melina.bath@parliament.vic.gov.au
