Children in need missing out on early learning

Urgent action needed. Statement on childcare accessibility in Australia in response to Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy report.

Governments at all levels should prioritise urgent action in these 51 communities, including funding for an Early Childhood Hub. We’d never accept more than 17,000 children across Australia missing out on a place at school, so why are we accepting children in these 51 communities missing out on early childhood education.” Emma Sydenham • Director, Early Childhood

SVA welcomes the report released yesterday from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy that highlights ‘childcare deserts’ across Australia where the market isn’t working. Of the 160 communities identified as having the worst access to childcare across each jurisdiction, 32% were identified by SVA as needing an Early Childhood Hub due to the high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage and early childhood vulnerability.   

This includes communities such as Elsey in the Northern Territory and Elizabeth East in Adelaide where 86% and 21% of children (respectively) are experiencing significant disadvantage and preschool enrolment rates are low. 

Early Childhood Hubs are a service and social hub where children and families can go to access key services, such as early learning programs, maternal and child health, family support programs and more targeted supports, and connect with other families.  

This market failure contributes to the current situation where kids living in the most disadvantaged areas are twice as likely to start school behind than kids from the least disadvantaged areas.   

Click here to find out more about our Nurture Together program, and the work we are doing to make sure that the children and their families experiencing the most significant disadvantage have access to the supports they need to thrive.