Royal Far West and other groups representing rural Australians have joined the National Farmers’ Federation in calling for the opposition to match the Federal Government’s commitment to spend $1 billion fixing childcare deserts [1].
More than 700,000 Australians currently live in ‘childcare deserts’ [2] – parts of the country with little to no access to early childhood education and care. A majority of regional and rural Australian communities are deemed childcare deserts.
This dire lack of early childhood education and care places in regional and rural communities sows the seeds of ongoing disadvantage for children in these areas, who are much less likely than their urban counterparts to access the benefits of high-quality learning in the early years, enabling them to start school ready and prepared.
The lack of early education and childcare also prevents primary carers in regional and rural communities, who are predominantly women, from re-entering the workforce should they choose.
It negatively impacts local businesses in regional and rural communities, making it hard to attract and retain staff members as more and more families with young children move out.
This must change.
Regional and rural Australian children and families deserve better. They deserve the same opportunities to thrive and live up to their full potential as those living in urban areas of Australia.
We join the National Farmers’ Federation in calling on the federal opposition to match or improve on the Government’s commitment to invest $1 billion in building or expanding 160 early childhood education and care centres in areas of need[3].
[1] Priorities for an incoming Federal Government – National Farmers’ Federation
[2] 700,000 Australians still without childcare access – Victoria University
[3] Next steps in building a universal early education system – Australian Labor