Affordability & Accessibility
Regional QLD families waiting more than 12 months to access services RAI study finds
Freya Lucas
Apr 03, 2023
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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) users in regional Queensland are waiting more than 12 months to access services, a new study from the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) has found.
The study, which was funded by Origin Energy as Upstream Operator of Australia Pacific LNG, focused on accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of ECEC services and the subsequent impact on workforce participation, liveability, population attraction and retention of staff in the Maranoa and Western Downs regions of South-West Queensland.While regional Australia is recognised as an attractive place to live and work, there is a gap in the provision of available ECEC, including in the Maranoa and Western Downs, which is impacting its regional workforce capability, RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said.
“Of all children in the Maranoa between 0 to 4 age group, the centre-based long day care services can only accommodate 39 per cent. Western Downs has 2,219 children in this age group, with its services able to provide for 22 per cent.”
Previous research from the Mitchell Institute has shown that 3.7 million regional Australians live in a ‘childcare desert’ – a region where there are three children per childcare place. Childcare deserts are disproportionately located in rural and regional areas, with towns of less than 1,500 the most at risk of a lack of childcare.
The RAI study found that ECEC was a core factor in determining the liveability of a region.
“Of all the children in the Maranoa region between birth to four years of age, the centre-based long day care services can only accommodate 39 per cent of them,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Western Downs has 2,219 children in this age group, with its services able to provide for 22 per cent.”
Many of the families in the region are waiting between four and six months to access care, while in Western Downs, the wait is 12 months or more. Not being able to access care is limiting the capacity of families to go back to work, to work more hours, and to achieve financial stability.
Across the county, the regional job vacancy rate has almost doubled in the last five years, with more than 81,000 roles advertised in January. This study confirms that not having access to ECEC services is hampering the ability of residents to maximise their contribution to the local workforce.
When it comes to making more ECEC options available, educators and sector stakeholders consistently identified staffing as their most significant issue, with limited relief staff available to cover sick days, holidays and training. The result was children being sent home when staff shortages arose.
However, the study found that there are currently 1.8 people with relevant childcare qualifications for every person employed in the sector in the Maranoa and Western Downs, presenting an opportunity to support the sector through workforce re-engagement.
“The recommendations we have put forward provide the local community with a starting point to facilitate further discussions. It is important that all levels of government, industry, business and the community are at the table to work locally on solutions,” Ms Ritchie added.
These recommendations include:
- Developing a regional workforce strategy for the childcare sector
- Establishing a relief pool of ECEC educators
- Promoting start-up support for family day care providers
- Supporting the fit-out of community-owned houses for family day care
- Supporting kindergartens to transition to provide long day care where appropriate.
“Solving the challenges facing regional Australia starts with having the collective will to make change. But equally as important it’s about having the facts. I’d like to congratulate Origin for commissioning this report,” Ms Ritchie said.
David Atkin, General Manager Integrated Gas at Origin said Origin is proud to have funded the study, recognising that providing quality ECEC services is essential for the wellbeing and growth of local communities.
“We recognise the challenges that families in the Maranoa and Western Downs face when it comes to accessing affordable, high-quality ECEC services. By collaborating with our local communities and RAI to address these issues and work together, we hope these research outcomes help to drive positive change,” Mr Atkin said.
To view a copy of the Maranoa and Western Downs Childcare Report, please click here.
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