Over 5,000 WA children live in childcare deserts, new SVA report shows 

More than 5,500 West Australian children live in ‘childcare deserts,’ a new report from Social Ventures Australia has shown. 

A ‘childcare desert’ is defined as a region where at most, just one spot at an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service is available for every three children who need it.

The report identified 27 areas across the state with less than 0.333 childcare places available per child aged zero to six years of age which, when paired with socioeconomic disadvantage, could leave them at risk of lifelong health, social and welfare problems.

Meekatharra, in the state’s Mid West, recorded the highest level of disadvantage nationally out of all regions listed as childcare deserts, with the East Pilbara coming in sixth place and Halls Creek in eighth.

Areas such as these, Social Ventures Australia early childhood director Emma Sydenham argues, should be considered a priority for initiatives such as the ALP’s pre-election promise of a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund.

Social Ventures Australia will use the findings to lobby the government, labelling the regions listed as “early education priority zones”.

“These areas span across Western Australia – remote communities feature heavily, but metropolitan areas just kilometres from the Perth CBD, like Balga, Mirrabooka and Girrawheen are part of this education priority,” Ms Sydenham said when speaking with local news source WA Today.

WA, she continued, should address the lack of service providers by focusing on building early childhood hubs, which she described as “one-stop-shops where early childhood education, allied health, family and parenting supports can be delivered together”.

This model is similar to the offering in Victoria, which sees these multiuse services located on or near school grounds. There are also several models operational in WA including Child and Parent Centres WA and the Salvation Army Children’s Activities and Services in Balga.

For Ms Sydenham such models offer children and families experiencing disadvantage “more than just childcare,” providing a holistic way to address the issues in the number of places on offer and help bridge other gaps created through social imbalances.

“There is a chance to change their trajectory in early childhood, and we can’t afford to miss that chance,” she said. 

In outlining the value of such services, she was candid about the challenges of attracting the workforce to the more remote areas and ensuring there was the proper infrastructure, including housing, something she admitted “would be difficult,” urging the communities that would benefit the most from the arrangement to lobby their local members and make their voices heard to help push the government for change.

“The federal and West Australian governments have already made some major steps forward for early childhood education, now is the time to act fast and target investment where it will have the most impact for children in WA,” she said.

Access the report here. The WA Today coverage of this story is available here.