Early childhood learning has been a major theme of the NSW Government’s spate of announcements ahead of the state budget, with four different initiatives promised to improve access to childcare.

While it’s early days, the announcements should see the Western Plains being freed of the ‘childcare desert’ title, with increased staff and fee relief for families. 

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the programs will see a higher percentage of women being able to return to the workforce - a decision that is often made difficult due to the high cost of childcare.

“This package will help break the childcare drought by targeting areas with the least access to affordable childcare, which poses the highest disincentive to parents returning to work,” Ms Taylor said.



Under the proposed Affordable and Accessible Childcare and Economic Participation Fund will target areas with limited access to childcare centres, providing grants to childcare providers to expand infrastructure and establish new centres.  

Western NSW is largely sparse when it comes to childcare access. Cobar particularly stands out, with 100 per cent of the LGA being in a ‘desert’, and only 0.103 places per child.

This means that where there should be one space for a child, there are almost 10 children needing care. Or in a centre that might have the capacity for 20 children per day, there is a demand for 200.

Across Australia, regional areas are unsurprisingly more likely to be classified as a regional desert. 

The investment in childcare is intended to eliminate the disparity between city and country. 

“Childcare shouldn’t be a postcode lottery. Improving the affordability and accessibility of childcare is once in a generation economic policy,” NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said.

While the announcement is clearly welcome, some cynicism has amounted in terms of staffing new centres where the workforce is already scarce.

NSW/ACT Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) branch secretary Mark Northam said that the problem will persist until low salaries for early childhood education staff is addressed. 

“Existing preschools and long day care centres are struggling to find staff to cover their rosters right now, so I am baffled about how the proposed new centres will be managed,” Northam said. 

The Perrottet package aims to tackle this challenge with early childhood teacher scholarships, as well as employer supplements for staff retention. 

“This package will open new doors to attract, support and retain the best early childhood workforce in NSW, to create a brighter future for families and children,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

It remains to be seen whether this investment will help attract staff in struggling towns like Cobar, where multiple other issues exist in retaining and attracting a workforce, such as housing and facilities. 

The suite of investments also includes thousands of dollars in fee relief that all NSW families will be eligible for, an answer to the persisting issue of exorbitant childcare fees. 

Mr Kean said the evidence shows clearly the positive impact quality preschool can have on a child’s life outcomes and on the economy.  

"Every $1 invested in early childhood education delivers a $2 boost to the NSW economy – it is a great investment for any Treasurer,” Mr Kean said. 

 Kean said investment in childcare is the best way to improve women’s economic opportunity, increase female workforce participation and close the gender pay gap.   

"Childcare costs impede the dreams of women across NSW because many women are only able to keep about 30 cents in each dollar they earn when they return to work,” Mr Kean said. 

The reforms could see families living in regional NSW with two children in childcare saving up to $7,800 each year in childcare and preschool expenses.