SA Regional Councils band together in response to shortages in early learning 

Regional councils in the north and west of South Australia have launched a social media campaign to highlight a shortage of early learning services in the region which is impacting local businesses, and having an impact on vital service provision. 

Twenty-three councils in the north and west of SA formed the Regional Childcare Desert Advocacy Project in December 2024 to highlight the flow-on effects of the shortage.

Paramedic Jessica Vandenbroek is one of the parents involved in the campaign, sharing the experience of trying to return to work after the birth of her two sons, now aged three and six years. 

Ms Vandenbroek, who makes the 100-kilometre round trip from Cummins to Port Lincoln for work, said her job was part of her identity, and that finding care for the boys was stressful, leaving her with limited opportunities to continue to develop as a professional. 

“I feel like from the very get go when I went back to work it was literally just a day by day of like ‘who are we going to get to help cover us this week’,” Ms Vandenbroek shared with The ABC.

“My husband at that time was working on the powerlines so he was on call himself so that was a bit of a juggle as well.”

Fellow medical professional, and Eyre Peninsula resident Gabby Brown agreed, saying she had had to forgo regular shifts due to a lack of care. She now only works weekends when her husband is home to care for the children, or during school holidays when there is support from family members. 

Project spokesperson and Lower Eyre Council Mayor, Jo-Anne Quigley, said childcare would likely be a key issue for voters at the upcoming federal election.

“It’s not going to be a one size fits all because we’re all different size centres and some have no childcare, some of us have Rural Care [run by the state government],” Ms Quigley said.

“The problem we’re finding is the funding is suited to eastern states and not South Australia as far as ticking the box criteria.”

Australia’s fourth largest electorate, the seat of Grey, covers 92.4 per cent of South Australia, and was found to have the lowest rate of accessibility for early learning in the country in the 2022 Mitchell Institute study Deserts and Oasis: How accessible is childcare in Australia 

As well as health professionals, teachers and small business owners have joined the campaign, calling for urgent funding to solve the critical childcare shortage many regional South Australian towns are facing.

For Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson the impact of a lack of ECEC is enormous on rural communities.

“We know that we have available people with the appropriate skills and qualifications that are out there and they’re desperate to work but they can’t do that without childcare support,” Mr Johnson said.

“Housing, health and childcare are the three biggest issues right across the state so it really is having an effect,” he shared with The ABC.

He said workforce shortages could be helped by small adjustments and investment in programs.

“This is hindering growth and it’s hindering our state economy as well,” he said.

“We see this as an investment not as a cost and a little bit of investment will provide benefits right across the state and right across the country.”