Council
20 February, 2025
Not-for-profit backs calls for childcare improvement
A SOUTH west not-for-profit has thrown its support behind a support behind a campaign to put south west Victoria’s childcare shortages on the national political agenda.
With a federal election looming and the electorate of Wannon expected to be hotly contested, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW) has said politicians can no longer ignore the region’s ‘childcare deserts’ and must increase the number of childcare centres, staff and available places.
A 2024 Mitchell Institute analysis of places, availability and demand showed Corangamite and Moyne shires were among the worst for childcare access.
Corangamite North had 1.97 children for each childcare place in the region, while Corangamite South was even worse at 3.87.
Moyne West was at 2.38, while Moyne East was the second worst in the region at 4.23 – trailing only Colac surrounds at 5.37.
WHWBSW has backed South West Victoria Alliance, which comprises councils across the region in addition to Wannon Water and Deakin University, after it released its 2025 Federal Election platform in December.
The platform centred around childcare, community infrastructure, renewable energy transition and local government and sustainability infrastructure.
WHWBSW has long advocated for valuing care and ensuring the predominantly female childcare workforce is fairly paid.
The campaign is also urging the Commonwealth to fund a new childcare centre of excellence at Deakin University in Warrnambool to help train childcare workers locally.
“Too many families are waiting several months for a place in childcare, or missing out entirely,” WHWBSW chief executive officer Jodie Hill said.
“A family’s whole existence is thrown into limbo.
“Communities across Wannon are crying out for meaningful action on our ‘childcare deserts’.”
Ms Hill said childcare shortages affect entire families, but impact women in particular.
“A woman’s choice about whether, or to what extent, she participates in paid work is significantly impacted,” she said.
“This undercuts a woman’s ability to earn money, accumulate superannuation, pursue career progression and achieve financial security.”
Ms Hill highlighted the importance of ensuring childcare workers are fairly paid for their work.
“Most childcare workers are female, and it’s critical that they are valued properly and paid fairly for the important work they do and the responsibility they carry,” she said.
“That’s currently not the case.”
Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West is the region’s leading organisation for advancing gender equality, with a commitment to creating equal and respectful communities to improve the lives of women.
For more information on the campaign visit https://southwestvictoriaalliance.com.au/news/southwestchildcare.
A petition calling for government support to address the childcare shortage has also been launched, and has since collected more than 300 signatures.
For more information visit change.org/SouthWestChildcare.
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