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South Gippsland childcare crisis deepens as families face long waits and limited access to places

South Gippsland families face growing child care shortages, with long waitlists and limited places due to staff shortages and lack of centres - particularly impacting parents with children under three.

By news@gippsland - 7th May 2025 - Back to News

A severe lack of access to childcare across South Gippsland continues to significantly impact local families. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said he continues to be contacted by desperate parents and carers seeking help to find childcare so they can get on with providing for their families.

Danny O'Brien said many South Gippsland centres are limiting places due to educator shortages, with half capping enrolments nationwide, according to a recent Australian Childcare Alliance survey

Childcare access struggles

Mr O'Brien said, "We have seen some improvement across Wellington Shire, largely due to new childcare centres opening in Maffra, Rosedale and Stratford, but it remains a large concern across South Gippsland particularly in areas like Korumburra and Foster."

"Families in these areas, particularly those with children under three, are being waitlisted with no real way to know how long they will be waiting. Very recently I was contacted by a woman who is attempting to return from maternity leave that is understandably at wits end. She has been advised by centres in Korumburra, Leongatha, Wonthaggi, and Mirboo North that she will be waiting at least another nine months," said Mr O'Brien.

Childcare crisis growing

Mr O'Brien said even the centres that are operating in South Gippsland are having to limit available places due to a lack of qualified educators. This issue was highlighted in the most recent survey of Early Childhood Education and Care providers (completed by Australian Childcare Alliance) which showed that half had had to cap enrolments due to staffing concerns.

"This same survey showed that more than 2,000 children a week were missing out on places purely due to staff shortages. Gippsland families need to be able to access childcare when they need it so that they can return to work if and when they want to."

"This is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed at both state and federal levels of government. It is clear that Labor can't manage childcare and it is regional families that are playing the price," concluded Mr O'Brien.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com