ECEC sector wonders where staff will come from for NSW new preschool ventures

Many in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector are wondering where staff will be found to fill the newly announced preschool services in New South Wales. 

In the regional town of Goulburn, for example, more than 770 new ECEC places are planned, between the newly announced preschools and also long day care (LDC) services currently under development.

Planning assessment is currently underway for new centres in Goulburn – 120 places in Deccan Street, 63 places in Queen Street, 115 places in Dalley Street, 48 places in Elizabeth Street, and 120 in Long Street. 

Already approved are a 95-place childcare centre at Quiberon Way, that received planning approval in 2020, a second service with 104 places on Bonneville Boulevard which was approved in 2021, and a third, a 109 place service in Record Street which was approved in 2023. 

The already approved services are not opening, and are unlikely to, due to a lack of staff, local news source About Regional reports. 

A lack of available care is impacting migration to the region, with many families saying they cannot settle in the region without care, despite its affordable housing. 

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman frequently hears stories from parents unable to access places close to home, many of whom work in vital professions such as education, health care and trades. 

“It is really concerning and I would like to see the Government placing greater value on helping our community’s early educators,” she shared with About Regional. 

For one local mother, who has a 10 month old child, commuting to Canberra for work is becoming challenging without access to ECEC. Some local families have been on waiting lists for four years, something which she says is unsustainable, leaving her with no option but to leave her job. 

“We live in Goulburn, but do not have any family around here. All our family are three hours away,” she said. “It makes it a bit harder; we don’t have that to fall back on.”

To read the original coverage of this story, as created by About Regional please see here.