Community
20 December, 2024
Council joins push to ease childcare crisis
WARRNAMBOOL City Council is joining others across south-west Victoria in a push to boost funding and support to ease the region’s childcare crisis.
According to a recent statement issued by SouthWest Victoria Alliance (SWVA) there aren’t enough childcare centres, workers or vacancies across the south-west.
The SWVA, which is chaired by Warrnambool City mayor Cr Ben Blain, believes this situation is making life difficult for families and employers – and is acting as a handbrake on the local economy.
SWVA has released its 2025 federal election platform which is centred around a push for more federal support to combat the shortages.
The alliance comprises the Warrnambool City Council and the shires of Colac, Corangamite, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Glenelg and Colac-Otway, with representatives from Deakin University and Wannon Water.
“South-west Victoria is riddled with childcare deserts,” SWVA chair Ben Blain said.
“Our childcare shortages must be a top-tier issue as we head towards the federal election.
“We’ll be meeting with Ministers, MPs and candidates as the election approaches to make sure our childcare challenges are understood and addressed.”
The shortages stem from a combination of factors, including small and dispersed populations, staff shortages, difficulties establishing new centres and a lack of adequate incentives for providers.
In addition to more direct support and incentives for childcare operators and workers, SWVA is pushing for $5 million from the federal government to establish a new Childcare Centre of Excellence at Deakin University, to train the next generation of local childcare workers and design a new model for rural childcare education.
According to data collected from a 2024 Mitchell Institute analysis of places, availability and demand, there is 1.94 children for every childcare place available in Warrnambool North and 1.99 for every place available in Warrnambool South.
SWVA is urging all south-west families and employers to sign a change.org petition in support of more federal action on childcare.
The petition will demonstrate to MPs and candidates the level of community frustration with the current shortages and the real-world impacts of living in a childcare desert.
Parents (and others) can add their support and share their stories at change.org/SouthWestChildcare.
