General News
12 November, 2024
Childcare centre of attention during MP's visit
Mallee mothers have shared heartbreaking stories with Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP and Shadow Minister for early childhood education Angie Bell MP surrounding zero access to childcare.
The MP's visited Hopetoun and Beulah last Tuesday to hear personal stories and possible solutions that can be made for rural families to regain access to childcare services.
Uniting Vic.Tas ceased their childcare services in Hopetoun in April this year, after they struggled to recruit new service leaders.
Since then Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh Shire Council have been working closely with the community and with services such as By Five and Emerge Early Learning Services to try and improve the situation.
It was announced in July that Emerge Early Learning Services would take over operations of the kindergarten and childcare in Hopetoun.
Hopetoun Community Centre hosted discussions and presentations led by Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh Shire Council's CEO's Tammy Smith and Monica Revell.
"There's inadequate childcare around the region," Ms Revell said. "The lack of childcare creates pressure which will impact the local economy."
Rainbow P-12 College principal Colleen Petschel attended and spoke about how zero access to childcare has impacted school staff as well as the future impact it will have on the community.
"Staff have had to take days off if they have a sick child," she said.
Looking to the future impacts, the lack of childcare can and does affect the school.
"Staffing is already tough with the teacher shortage everywhere and we have aging staff," Ms Petschel said.
She explained the first question new staff tend to ask is regarding childcare in the area.
"For some they reconsider the job," she said.
"This then creates a ripple effect as it limits the programs we can offer."
Jo Martin from By Five, a Wimmera Southern Mallee early years initiative, said if children thrive, our communities thrive. "Children are our biggest asset," she said.
"Childcare is a safe place and the best place for vulnerable children to be."
Ms Martin stated 58 per cent of the Wimmera Southern Mallee community has no childcare with 415 on the "known" waitlists.
"If you include the unknown waitlists it's close to 700 children," she said.
In the Wimmera Southern Mallee region there is currently 12 childcare services available, 92 per cent of which have a waiting list.
By Five has also found 67 per cent of these services have staff vacancies and it will take 104 staff to meet the demand.
One by one each mother bravely shared their personal stories ,which all had one thing in common, they have given up jobs to cater for the needs of their children.
A few said they have had to cut back on work hours and step down into smaller roles.
One said she has temporarily shut down her own business to be able to look after her children.
"I hope to open it back up again one day," she said.
With most of their husbands being farmers, they are now entering a busy time and are sometimes unable to help out.
Grandparents are aging and it becomes harder to find the right people to look after their children.
Some have had to rely on friends to care for their children, while they go to work.
They visited the childcare site, which is now being used for kindergarten purposes, as is a site situated at the Beulah Primary School.
The school has set up their art room and library to suit the needs of kindergarten students, which can also be utilised as a long day care site.
Students currently spend one day in Beulah and the rest in Hopetoun.
"You're making do with what you have in the community," Angie Bell said.
"It's stopping families from working.
"Childcare is so important, not just for the children, but for the workforce and other services."
"I'm pleased to bring Angie Bell here knowing the huge issue and for her to meet them and hear their voices and solutions," Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP said.