{"id":156913,"date":"2025-03-26T02:38:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T02:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/agriculture\/farming-families-leaving-town-over-lack-of-childcare\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T02:38:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T02:38:01","slug":"farming-families-leaving-town-over-lack-of-childcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156913","title":{"rendered":"Farming families leaving town over lack of childcare"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Rural families are leaving the bush because they can\u2019t get childcare for their kids.<\/p>\n

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Kirsty Starling pleads for more childcare solutions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Data* shows nearly a quarter (24%) of regions are classified as a \u201cchildcare desert\u201d.<\/p>\n

Kirsty Starling is a mother, nurse, sheep and beef farmer from Kingston, South Australia.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s part of a movement that\u2019s been fighting for childcare for more than 40 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want access and we want choice for our children,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

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When my children were young, our local rural care service had a waitlist of over 35 families.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cFamilies in my local town have been fighting for child care for over 40 years. Intergenerational women have suffered and so have their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Families have taken to social media<\/a> to ask for an equal go for their kids.<\/p>\n

Organisations like the Isolated Children\u2019s Parents\u2019 Association, The Parenthood, GrainGrowers, the National Farmers\u2019 Federation<\/a>, and independent politicians, have all added their voices to the calls.<\/p>\n

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Childcare deserts are holding kids and regional Australia back.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why the National Farmers\u2019 Federation and its members are imploring all sides of politics to commit to the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, ahead of the election. pic.twitter.com\/59yJttPV8L<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 National Farmers’ Federation (@NationalFarmers) March 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

They\u2019ve implored all sides of politics to commit to the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, ahead of the election.<\/p>\n

The fund, recently announced by the Federal Government, will bankroll the creation of more than 160 new childcare centres in areas of most need.<\/p>\n

GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said farming families\u2019 futures depended on the Building Early Education Fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about ensuring country kids get the same head start in life as city kids,\u201d Ms Gawel said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that quality early learning is critical for cognitive development, social skills, and school readiness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need our elected politicians and candidates to commit to these vital services.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Limited childcare options in the bush are setting rural kids back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kirsty Starling says the current childcare system is failing rural families.<\/p>\n

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Farming families need out of the box solutions to resolve this issue. There is no one size fits all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cIsolated and station families need unique solutions. They cannot travel to centre based daycare because of the distances they will need to travel and their geographic location kept them more isolated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need access to subsidies with in home care solutions. A postcode should not determine a child\u2019s future and access to education, but often it does.<\/p>\n

\u201cRural areas are begging to be heard. It\u2019s time to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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We need out-of-the-box thinking to fix the lack of childcare options in regional centres.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why the National Farmers\u2019 Federation and its members are imploring all sides of politics to commit to the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, ahead of the election. pic.twitter.com\/zD3oSRUCNP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 National Farmers’ Federation (@NationalFarmers) March 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Further resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

More information here on the Access for Every Child Coalition. This alliance of 73 organisations is calling on governments to ensure every single child has access to early childhood education and care, no matter where they live. Read more: https:\/\/www.theparenthood.org.au\/access_for_every_child<\/a><\/p>\n

More information on the Building Early Education Fund here:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.education.gov.au\/about-department\/resources\/building-early-education-fund<\/a><\/p>\n

*Childcare desert data:\u00a0https:\/\/www.vu.edu.au\/mitchell-institute\/childcare-accessibility-australia<\/a><\/p>\n

The NFF\u2019s Early Childhood Education and Care policy:\u00a0https:\/\/nff.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/NFF-ECEC-Policy-Statement-May-2024.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n