RDAA says lack of ECEC in rural and remote communities is holding doctors back 

The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) believes that a lack of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in rural and remote communities is discouraging doctors and other health professionals from moving to the bush, joining other peak bodies in advocating for the issue ahead of the Federal Election. 

These efforts have been articulated in the RDAA’s position paper, Childcare in Rural and Remote Australia, with RDAA President Dr RT Lewandowski saying there is an urgent need to boost ECEC in rural and remote towns for local doctors, health and other professionals, to support them to stay in those towns and help encourage more of their peers to ‘go rural’ too.

“Access to quality childcare and early learning is a critical issue for all families in rural and remote Australia…and rural doctors and other health professionals are not immune,” Dr Lewandowski shared with local news source Western Plains App.

“Not being able to access childcare makes a big difference to the number of hours a doctor or other rural health professional can work to provide health services in their community.”

“In some cases, the lack of childcare in their rural town means a doctor must leave that community for a larger centre with more childcare options, and it discourages other doctors from moving to the community.”

“The availability of childcare in rural and remote towns – from early childhood right through to high school – is critical in supporting the recruitment and retention of doctors and other health professionals in the bush.”

His position is supported by Bogan Shire General Manager Derek Francis, who said that outside school hours care (OSHC) was a ‘huge gap’ and area of major need, expressing that the Council had been lobbying the NSW Government about this crucial issue “since 2020 with no result.”

“Getting childcare right in rural and remote communities can make a big difference to the range of health services that can be provided in those communities, including even basic access to local healthcare,” Dr Lewandowksi continued.

“We urge the major parties to commit to driving change in this critical area if elected to Government.”

Access the original coverage of this story here.