ALMOST ALL OF SOUTHWEST VICTORIA IS A CHILDCARE DESERT; NOTHING WILL CHANGE WITHOUT GOV INVESTMENT
11 February 2025 – Community advocates are raising the alarm about the shortage of childcare places across Southwest Victoria and calling for urgent action.
Much of Southwest Victoria is a ‘childcare desert’ – an area where there are more than three children per available childcare place.
In Colac, there is only one childcare spot available for every ten children; in Gordon, one spot for every fourteen children; and in Moyne, one spot for every five children [1].
Maddy Butler from advocacy group The Parenthood visited the region last week and said the shortage is creating massive problems.
“Everyone from children to parents to local businesses are being impacted by a shortage of childcare and early learning places in the region,” Ms Butler said.
“Almost all of Southwest Victoria is a childcare desert, creating a massive issue for the local community.
“We have heard accounts of local parents waiting twelve months or more to get a spot – this is simply unsustainable.”
In December the Federal Government announced they would spend $1 billion to build or expand more than 160 early learning centres in underserved areas of the country.
Jay Weatherill from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign said the commitment was important for the region.
“The shortage of childcare and early learning is impacting children across Southwest Victoria, many of whom are missing out on the transformative benefits of high-quality learning and care in the early years,” Mr Weatherill said.
“It is preventing primary carers, who are predominantly women, from re-entering the workforce.
“It is impacting the local economy as businesses struggle to attract and retain staff when families with young children move out.
Mr Weatherill said private childcare providers alone could not be relied on to make childcare more accessible in regional and rural communities because they had little to no profit incentive to expand services in less populated areas.
“It is clear that the Government must play an active role in ensuring every Australian family can access childcare and early learning.
“We’re calling on all parties and candidates to commit to actionable reforms – like a dedicated childcare deserts fund – to help improve childcare access in areas of need.”
