The Federal Government must act to fix the early learning crisis crippling families and economies in rural, regional and remote Australia, according to a new coalition launching in Canberra on Tuesday.
The Access for Every Child Coalition, led by advocacy group The Parenthood, comprises more than fifty organisations including leading voices from across rural, regional and remote Australia, such as SNAICC, the National Rural Health Alliance, and Rural Councils Victoria.
Maddy Butler, Campaign Director of The Parenthood said country kids do not receive the same opportunities as those in cities, which impacts their individual development and the broader community's economic and social wellbeing.
"When parents and carers cannot get reliable and affordable early childhood education and care for their children, their ability to work is severely compromised,” said Ms Butler. “This means local businesses and essential services can’t find workers. This is killing towns.
"Think of a nurse in a rural town who can’t go back to work for as many days as she wants, or at all, because there's no childcare available. This not only affects her family's income but also the healthcare services that are critical for the community.
“These are stories we hear all too often, from families who live in communities where there is literally no access to childcare. It’s no surprise that these are often the very same areas that have low overall wellbeing. That speaks to the strain that an absence of childcare has on families and communities.
“The Government’s commitment in the Federal Budget to fund a wage rise for early childhood educators is an extremely positive step to addressing the early learning and childcare shortage. But this is not enough to address the lack of access to services outside of the cities.”
The Access for Every Child Coalition recognises that the market has failed in the regions. Their launch in Canberra calls on the Federal Government to take six actions to ensure all children in regional, rural and remote areas receive equitable access to early education:
- Implement strong public management of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) system in collaboration with state and territory governments
- Offer a range of supply-side subsidies for ECEC providers in rural and remote areas
- Invest in quality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled integrated early years services in rural and remote areas
- Implement a regional, rural and remote national workforce strategy including culturally safe training for First Nations educators
- Improve family day care and in home care provision
- Provide interim solutions
“The Federal Government has committed to a universal early education system. That means every child – regardless of location – can access affordable, high-quality early learning services,” said Ms Butler.
“Achieving this will require a tailored approach that includes collaboration with state, territory, and local governments, and local communities, because every community is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This is bold reform which will take time and consideration to roll out, making interim solutions imperative to provide a stopgap for families who are suffering right now.
“Advocates and representatives of rural, regional and remote Australia are in lockstep on this. We know that without significant changes and investment, the challenge of accessing early learning in non-urban areas will persist, holding back countless children, families and towns.
"It’s high time to recognise the unique needs of these communities and act,” said Ms Butler.
You can find a PDF of the joint statement here.
