Childcare costs high in local electorates
GEELONG families have good access to childcare but are paying more for early childhood education than those in other parts of the country, a new study has found.
Families in the Corangamite and Corio electorates are paying an average of $10.85 an hour for childcare, with both ranked in the top 30 per cent of electorates for the most expensive childcare.
The analysis from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute has found that one in five children is starting school developmentally at risk in the Corio and Corangamite electorates, compared with one in nine in the wealthy bayside and independent battleground electorate of Goldstein.
The Mitchell Institute has mapped by electorate the childcare cost and availability, and the development vulnerability of children when they start school.
Author Peter Hurley, education policy lead at Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute, found a trend towards electorates with high rates of developmentally vulnerable children having a shortage of childcare places available.
“While evidence shows early learning can overcome disadvantage and assist children to ‘catch up’ before starting school, this analysis shows a trend towards lower availability of childcare in the electorates with the highest rates of child development vulnerability,” Dr Hurley said.
“This is a really big problem because there is a lot of evidence that shows children who start school behind, stay behind.”
Education policy fellow and report co-author Hannah Matthews said access to quality childcare was key to a child’s development.
“Around one in five children are starting school developmentally at risk in the Corio and Corangamite electorates,” Ms Matthews said.
“We know accessing quality early childhood education can help children overcome their educational disadvantage and catch up.”
“While the electorate has good access to childcare it is among the top 30 per cent of electorates for the most expensive childcare.
“Cost of childcare could mean fewer disadvantaged families are accessing the early learning benefits of childcare.”