‘CHILDCARE DESERTS’ RIFE ON NSW MID-NORTH COAST, CAUSING SHORTAGE OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS
11 February 2025 – A dire shortage of childcare places is causing children in the mid-north’s coast most disadvantaged communities to be excluded from early learning.
The shortage is spilling into other sectors as nurses, aged care workers, teachers and other essential workers are unable to return to work when their children are young.
As many as fifty children compete for a spot in some areas, with some of the worst access in the surrounds of Nambucca Heads, Bellingen and Valla [1].
A 2023 survey by Regional Development Australia found that 52 per cent of local families are not able to secure childcare.
Shortages of medical staff and general practitioners are also a key community issue in the area, with some GPs reporting being unable to work enough to meet community need, due to the local lack of care of options for their pre-school aged children.
Jay Weatherill from the Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign said governments must act to ensure all children and families, regardless of their postcode, have access to childcare and early learning.
“Universally accessible early childhood education and care would not just support all children to thrive, but allow regional, rural and remote communities to flourish,” said Mr Weatherill.
“Without sufficient early education and care, thousands of parents – usually mothers – are left unable to work and support their families on their own terms.
“This leaves families financially worse-off, children more likely to start school developmentally vulnerable and local businesses and essential workforces facing staffing constraints, as we’re seeing on the NSW mid-north coast.”
Maddy Butler, Campaign Director at advocacy group The Parenthood, agreed.
“Early childhood education and care is a crucial service that sets children up to thrive, allows parents to work and earn an income, and provides sustainability to businesses and entire communities,” Ms Butler said.
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.
“We’re calling on all parties to commit to improving access to early education in Australia’s regions, so that every child and family can thrive,” Ms Butler said.
