MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan MP has called on the Federal Government to do more to urgently address the childcare drought across the Northern Tablelands and regional NSW.
Mr Moylan hit out at the Federal Government saying the lack of childcare places is dire and is leaving many parents who want to work full time with few options.
“The situation is deeply concerning and in some communities in the Northern Tablelands there is an 18 month to 2 year waiting list,” Mr Moylan said.
“Last year, there was not a single childcare spot in Bingara or Warialda.
“Cost of living pressures means that there are many mums and dads who want to get back into the workforce, but the lack of childcare places means this is increasingly difficult.”
Mr Moylan said the first step to addressing the childcare drought would be to review industry awards, which is managed by the Federal Government.
“Awards in terms of preschool teachers and childcare educators are federal matters and the Federal Government needs to step up and realise there’s a significant problem in the bush,” he said.
“It has become apparent to me that a lot of our problems in the bush come back to chronic staffing shortages – from healthcare to childcare – and reviewing awards is a good place to start.”
Mr Moylan said the term ‘childcare desert’ was used by a 2022 Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute report to describe a populated area where there are more than three children per childcare place or less than 0.333 places per child aged under four.
“The childcare desert is particularly bad in regional, rural and remote areas and I’m urging the Federal Government to step up urgently and address this problem.”
MEDIA: Electorate Office 6772 5552