Childcare desert in regions needs attention

CHILDCARE and aged care and how access would be improved for services in regional areas was a question posed to the Indi candidates at the forum on Monday night. Incumbent Independent Helen Haines led off and gave an example of the severity of the childcare problem in the electorate, noting that there were psychologists who couldn't access childcare services for their children and as a result they were only able to work two days a week. “In our area, with the exception of Mansfield, we are considered as a childcare desert with three little children for every one place that’s available," Dr Haines said. “We need to do something about that urgently.” Dr Haines said the government's increase of salaries for early education workers was a positive move, but they also need to build more early education centres and she wants to see them double. She also noted that she was able to advocate for funding for after school hours care for seven services in the electorate including Greta, Whitfield, Yackandandah and Rutherglen. Liberal candidate James Trenery said it was absolutely essential that in regional areas there is the same access to childcare as there is in the cities. He said if elected he’s happy to advocate for any increase and noted that some of the $20 billion regional fund announced by the Coalition will be distributed to childcare. One Nation candidate Athol Thomas told the forum that “we need to get kids back being raised by their parents” as opposed to being raised in childcare, with changes to the tax system allowing parents to afford to stay home with their children. “In the short term we can advocate for (childcare) increases because the cost of living, cost of housing and availability is making it almost impossible for families to be able to set up, live in a house and find somewhere to call home without both parents working,” he said. Mr Bridges said he worked in aged care to put himself through uni, and he made note of the TAFE fee free program to train more early childhood educators, and more nurses for aged care. He said the government has committed to the three-day childcare guarantee so both parents can work which has made a huge difference with affordability in the cost-of-living crisis. Others talked about cutting taxes and regulation as a solution for the strain on childcare.

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