Childcare pain still felt in South Gippsland

REGIONAL areas all over the nation are continuing to grapple with childcare availability as South Gippsland Shire also struggles with staff shortages and long waitlists. 

Following a new study released by the Regional Australia Institute which showed childcare users in Queensland waited more than 12 month to access services, the situation in South Gippsland is also struggling to improve.

According to council, all centres are currently seeking additional staff and waitlists are in place at most. 

‘Many centres have advised that they currently have limited capacity to take on new families,’ the shire noted.

‘At times, in some centres, childcare places have been reduced to accommodate staff shortages.

‘Staff with certificate 3, Diploma and Bachelor qualifications are needed in South Gippsland.’

Overall, South Gippsland has approximately 420 long day care places in Children’s Centres across the region.

However, there is some good news as an additional 121 places are opening in term 2 as part of the Leongatha Early Learning Centre. 

‘The opening of the Leongatha Early Learning Centre will help to reduce the overall waitlist, however, it will take time to employ qualified staff in order to be able to operate at full capacity,’ the shire highlighted. 

According to Regional Australia Institute, across the county, the regional job vacancy rate has almost doubled in the in the last five years, with more than 81,000 roles advertised in January.