More than 60 per cent of Tasmanian families say they can’t participate in the workforce due to lack of childcare access, prompting calls for state government intervention.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie says the latest Report on Government Services reveals a “worrying trend” that is acting as a handbrake on the state’s economy.
“We’d like to see state government doing more in this space and they can, and other states are doing that,” he said.
Willie said the federal government had made significant reforms including the three-day guarantee and additional subsidies, but the state needed to help activate childcare centres and create more options, particularly in regional areas.
Labor Huon candidate Abby McKibben said childcare access was a major issue emerging during her campaign.
“Supporting families here in the Huon was one of my biggest reasons for putting my hand up,” she said.
“Access here is a really big issue and I’m hearing that as I’m door knocking around the Huon.”
Local mother Alex Norris said she was forced to leave the workforce for three years when she couldn’t secure enough childcare for her second child.
“My employer needed me to work more than what I could get with childcare,” Norris said.
“We made the call as a family that because we couldn’t get any more childcare, that I would actually step out of the workforce.”
She said existing centres in the Huon Valley were at capacity, with families waiting years for spots.
“I’ve got friends on waiting lists that can’t get their kids in, and it’s been years now, and they still get just one casual spot,” she said.
Willie called on the state government to follow other states like Victoria and South Australia in helping activate early education centres through capital investment and workforce development.
“Over the history of the 12 years, they’ve refused to really get involved,” he said.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said childcare was a federal responsibility but the state had recently worked with the Commonwealth to secure $25 million for six new facilities in areas identified as “childcare deserts”.
“We will always look at opportunities, certainly where we can assist the federal government,” she said.
“The latest Report on Government Services data shows 63.4 per cent of three-year-olds are participating in early childhood education and care.”
“The 30 per cent figure Mr Willie is referring to is the percentage of children in ECEC from ages 0-12, so this includes children who are attending school.”
“It’s also important to recognise that not every family wants or chooses to place infants in formal childcare, with many opting for parental care or informal arrangements in the early years.”
