Thriving Regional Economies Starts with Childcare
The Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce has identified childcare placement availability and staffing shortages as a pressing issue for local businesses. Our members have consistently highlighted that these challenges are major obstacles to attracting and retaining talented employees. With waitlists for childcare places often exceeding two years, businesses are facing significant disruptions to their workforce planning and productivity. This not only impacts individual companies but also has far-reaching consequences for the regional economy. Given our region's large pool of skilled and ready-to-work individuals, addressing the childcare crisis is essential to maximising our economic potential.
The Report
This report outlines selected findings from research commissioned by Thrive by Five in collaboration with the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce. The research was conducted by Essential Research and consisted of three surveys. The surveys aimed to understand the impact that the childcare shortage is having on parents, businesses and providers in the Goondiwindi
The Videos
Mothers
Demonstrate that Goondiwindi is just one of many towns in Australia dealing with the flow-on effects of childcare shortages, and that early years reform would significantly benefit all regional communities
Childcare Crisis
Childcare Providers
Business
Join The Conversation
Join the conversation
14 October 2024
11.30am - 6pm
Gateway to Training
15-21Russell Street, Goondiwindi QLD 4390
We welcome drop-in visits or participation in our scheduled sessions, held from 11:30 AM to 6 PM
The Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce is seeking innovative ideas to address the pressing issue of childcare placement availability and staffing shortages. If you have a creative solution or fresh perspective, we would love to hear from you. Join the conversation and help shape a brighter future for our region.
Other Research
3 September 2024 Jobs and Skills Australia launch the final report for the Early Childhood Education and Care Capacity Study, recognising the early childhood education profession in partnership with HumanAbility Ltd.
The report's 28 findings and 41 recommendations provide key insights and a sophisticated understanding of the challenges faced in this industry, as well as a guide on how to supercharge our early childhood education system.
Read the report summary or the full document that expands on the thorough research behind these conclusions. Both are available here:
https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/studies/early-childhood-education-and-care-study
The South Australian Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care investigated what can be done to better support families.
A range of services provide what is called 'early childhood education and care'. These include:
long day care (often known as child care)
family day care
early learning centres
children's centres
preschool (often known as kindy or kindergarten).
Led by the Hon Julia Gillard AC, the Royal Commission will focued on how these services can support all children to succeed. It will also looked at preschool for all 3-year-old children and the supports families might need to access quality education and care, including out of school hours care at all ages.
https://www.royalcommissionecec.sa.gov.au/publications/final-report
GrainGrowers involvement with The Parenthood’s campaign stems from a shared commitment to improving the lives of families in regional, rural, and remote grain growing areas of Australia. We joined the Access for Every Child Coalition because we recognise the critical role that early childhood education and care (ECEC) plays in supporting the wellbeing and economic stability of our members and supporters. Backing this report is an important part of GrainGrowers’ advocacy for the workforce underpinning farming communities.
Childcare users in regional Queensland have waited more than 12 months to access services, according to a new study released by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI).
The RAI Childcare Study, funded by Origin Energy as Upstream Operator of Australia Pacific LNG, focused on accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of childcare and its impact on workforce participation, liveability, population attraction and retention of staff in the Maranoa and Western Downs regions of South-West Queensland.
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said that regional Australia is recognised as an attractive place to live and work, but there is a gap in the provision of available childcare in many areas, including the Maranoa and Western Downs, which is impacting its regional workforce capability.
The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government’s independent research and advisory body on a range of economic, social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians. Its role, expressed most simply, is to help governments make better policies, in the long term interest of the Australian community. The Commission’s independence is underpinned by an Act of Parliament. Its processes and outputs are open to public scrutiny and are driven by concern for the wellbeing of the community as a whole.
High quality children’s education and care sets the foundations for lifelong learning, wellbeing and development. Education Ministers recognise the critical importance of the children’s education and care sector, as well as the dedication and resilience of its workforce throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic and beyond.
The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy (2022-2031) has been developed to support the recruitment, retention, sustainability and quality of the sector workforce.
‘Shaping Our Future’ acknowledges and builds on the significant investment by all governments to date in workforce related initiatives, as well as a range of recent and ongoing initiatives launched by the sector.
The ten-year timeframe for the strategy recognises the complexity of the workforce challenges faced by the sector and provides a call to action for all stakeholders to work towards ambitious goals.
Access to quality childcare is increasingly critical to Australian children, families and the economy. There are many anecdotal reports of families having difficulty finding appropriate childcare services, especially in regional Australia and some parts of our major cities. However, there is a lack of evidence exploring the nature and extent of the problem.
Read the report: https://www.vu.edu.au/mitchell-institute/early-learning/childcare-deserts-oases-how-accessible-is-childcare-in-australia
Our Impact
We've partnered with GDIFDC to guide and support individuals in discovering everything they need to know to embark on a rewarding journey in the world of Family Daycare.
Mondays Gateway To Training offer free tutoring from an experienced Early Childhood Educator. 4-6pm in our RUC
Supporters
Do you have a solution to the childcare crisis in Goondiwindi?
The Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce is seeking innovative ideas to address the pressing issue of childcare placement availability and staffing shortages. If you have a creative solution or fresh perspective, we would love to hear from you. Join the conversation and help shape a brighter future for our region.