Affordability & Accessibility
Report Summaries
State of Australia’s Regions report shows impact of ECEC shortages
Freya Lucas
Feb 08, 2024
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The Federal Government has released the 2024 State of Australia’s Regions report which showcases data and insights on key issues and opportunities impacting Australia’s regions, including early childhood education and care (ECEC).
“Supporting strong, secure and sustainable regions is a high priority of the Australian Government,” Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.“That is why we are launching this new report, which will contribute to informing how we can collectively build strong, sustainable and welcoming regional communities. These regular reports will support evidence-based decision making through the Government’s Regional Investment Framework – ensuring investments and initiatives across government respond to what the data is showing, and what people in the regions are saying.”
The 2024 report focuses on contemporary and pressing issues as identified at the local level, including:
- ensuring regional workforces are positioned to meet the needs of today and tomorrow
- promoting the economic aspirations, cultures and languages of First Nations people
- supporting places with amenity, services and economic opportunities
- collaboratively addressing issues like housing availability and affordability and access to quality early childhood education and care,
- preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters, and
- responding to challenges and opportunities as we transition to a net zero emissions future.
The report also provides a snapshot of Australian Government initiatives and investments that are strengthening the productivity, liveability and sustainability of regional Australia, such as the Growing Regions Program, Regional Precincts and Partnership Program and Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
“These regular reports will support evidence-based decision making through the Government’s Regional Investment Framework – ensuring investments and initiatives across government respond to what the data is showing, and what people in the regions are saying,” Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister Kristy McBain said.
“We’re committed to building thriving and dynamic regional communities – where people can pursue a range of economic opportunities across established and emerging industries, where they can build new skills, and where they can pursue their dream job.”
“As communities outside of our big cities grow, it’s more important than ever that regional people have access to reliable, fit-for-purpose services in their own backyard – from education, health and connectivity.”
“This report provides us with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in our regions, and will help ensure that our investments continue to target local priorities.”
The report contributes to the Government’s extensive suite of in-depth regional data tools and products, including the Regional Data Hub, the Progress in Australian Regions and Cities Dashboard, the new Measuring What Matters framework, and the broad variety of data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
To read the full report please see here.
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