JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

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Angie Bell MP

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education

Shadow Minister for Youth

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Dr Anne Webster MP

Member for Mallee

Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health

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Mallee mothers share with Shadow Minister their hardships in childcare deserts

Wednesday 30 October 2024

The Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP brought Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Angie Bell MP to Robinvale, Cohuna, Hopetoun and Beulah to hear how families and communities have been struggling for years in childcare deserts.

“Mothers came to see Angie and myself to share their personal grief and struggles at not being able to find childcare places locally or even within driving distance,” Dr Webster said.

“At Robinvale for instance there is just one service run by the Murray Valley Aboriginal Corporation which takes all children from the community.  Robinvale has one of Mallee’s worst childcare deserts, which are defined as having less than one place for every three children needing it.  In Robinvale, there are ten children wanting each place.”

“In Hopetoun, mothers told us of the mental health struggle they have endured not being able to obtain childcare for their children. The local provider ceased operations recently, and the local shires (Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh) have been working hard with Wimmera Southern Mallee Development’s By Five initiative to strengthen childcare in the region.  I am working with them at state and federal levels to cut through the red tape and promote policy that will bring sustainable childcare to the region,” Dr Webster said.

By Five reports that over 50 per cent of the Wimmera Southern Mallee alone is considered a childcare desert.

Cohuna residents and stakeholders said their number one priority is to have a date to work towards, after the Victorian Government made an in-principle commitment to establishing the town’s first childcare centre sometime in 2027 or 2028.  In Gannawarra shire 86 children are currently waiting for a place in long day care, with some waiting since January 2023, while 42 Cohuna/Leitchville families are waiting for family day care places – some since May 2022.

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Angie Bell said the whistlestop tour of Mallee’s childcare deserts reinforced the unique challenges in regional Australia she has encountered travelling across Australia.

“This week I heard stories about families and communities doing it tough because of limited or a lack of access to early learning, and unfortunately this is a common issue throughout regional, rural and remote Australia," Ms Bell said.

"The Albanese Government is spending $8 billion on subsidies and higher wages and not delivering one single place for children in communities like Robinvale, Cohuna, Beulah and Hopetoun."

“As we approach the next Federal Election, the Coalition will continue to advocate for flexibility and choice for all families.

“With no plan to increase access, regional Australian families deserve to know why they’re always worse off under Labor.”

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