NEW RESEARCH – 700,000 AUSSIES LIVING IN AREAS WITH LITTLE TO NO CHILDCARE ACCESS
20 August 2024 – A new report from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute has found that nearly 700,000 Australians are currently living in areas with little to no childcare access [1].
The new edition of the “Childcare Deserts” report also highlighted that early childhood education and care services continue to remain less accessible in regional, rural and outer-suburban areas of Australia than in urban areas.
Jay Weatherill from the Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign said the findings underscored the need for a universal early learning and care system in Australia.
“All children and families should have the right to access high-quality early learning and care, no matter their postcode,” Mr Weatherill said.
“However, Australia’s current approach to early education has created a reality where rural, remote and lower socio-economic parts of the country have limited to no access.
“Our early learning system disincentivises early learning providers to operate in areas with smaller populations like regional communities, or lower-income areas, because it is based on a subsidy model.
“The only way to address this challenge is by building a truly universal early childhood education and care system in Australia.
“A universal early learning system, just like our great public school system, would help ensure that every child in Australia, regardless of where they live, can get the best possible start to life.
“For far too long families and children living in regional, rural and many outer-suburban parts of Australia have had limited or no access to early learning services and it is holding them back.
“This must change. Families and children deserve the same opportunities no matter where they live.
“By building a universal early learning system we can help ensure that all Australian children, wherever they live, can access early learning and start school ready.
“We can ensure that all Australian families have greater flexibility by enabling primary carers to re-enter the workforce should they choose to.
“And we can ensure that the Australian economy is strengthened through increased workforce participation by parents.
“A universal early learning and care system is in Australia’s best interest, and we strongly encourage the Federal Government to work towards making it a reality,” Mr Weatherill said.
[1] Victoria University – Mitchell Institute – Childcare Deserts
