I thank the member for Moncrieff for her motion. 

The positive impact of quality early childhood education cannot be overstated. It is simply transformational. Kids who receive educational care earlier are better equipped for the challenges that life throws at them – it sets them up for success at home, at school, and throughout their life. 

A resilient early childhood education sector is also a game changer for parents and carers, particularly in rural, regional and remote communities. When high-quality childcare is available, parents can choose to return to work sooner or work more days per week. And at a time when the cost-of-living is so high, access to childcare makes it easier to provide for a family. 

And if we can get more parents working, we can help to address workforce shortages in areas such as teaching, healthcare, construction and so many others. Regional workforces are under so much pressure, and affordable and available childcare is one of the best tools we will have to fill the jobs we need. 

Unfortunately, this is not the reality across most of Australia. In rural and regional Australia, ‘childcare deserts’ are everywhere – areas where there are three children for every childcare space. Just last week, new ABS data showed that a lack of childcare is the number one reason stopping women from entering or re-entering the workforce. When families can’t access childcare, women pay the price, losing out on career progression, superannuation accrual and social connection. It has consequences for the family budget and for the opportunities offered to that beautiful, developing child. This system is failing us. 

That’s why, in mid-July, I hosted two playdate events in my electorate with the Parenthood, one of Australia’s leading advocacy groups for a better and fairer childcare system. I thank Maddy Butler and the Parenthood for their commitment to regional childcare shortages and engagement with the people in my electorate of Indi.  

Our Playdate events were an opportunity to go beyond the statistics, and hear from parents, grandparents and carers directly. To hear what childcare shortages mean for parents in my electorate, and what they want to see done differently.  

I thank all the parents and careers who came out to the Wangaratta and Wodonga libraries, and for those who wrote to me to share their stories. But what I’m hearing has me seriously concerned and reinforces exactly what the experts and the numbers are saying.  

I heard from parents who’ve lost track of the number of waitlists their child is on – forced to wait years for a place to become available. 

I heard from parents driving hours every day to get their kids to where a spot is available – meaning only one parent can work fulltime. 

I heard from Grandparents who have given up work so they can step in to provide childcare, because otherwise their own adult children would be in financial trouble.  

Frankly – something has to change. And while I commend the Government for increasing the childcare subsidy, and for its commitment to fund a wage rise for early childhood educators, so desperately deserved – more urgent action is required. 

We need to do more to train passionate and skilled early childhood educators. Recent research by the Australia Education Research Organisation shows that one of the greatest indicators of success in the first year of school is the quality of early childhood educators at that period. 

That is why it is so crucial, so fundamental that we support more Australians to build a career in this sector, and that we value and recognise the life-changing impact this work has.  

That means paying early childhood educators more – and I support the Government’s commitment to fund a 15 per cent wage rise for employees. 

It means exploring all options to ensure more Australians study early childhood education and teaching in regional areas. This could involve expanding access to fee-free courses in regional centres, and making sure that placements prepare, extend and develop the educators of the future. 

And, finally it could mean funding local governments and not-for-profits to provide childcare services in regional towns and communities where the for-profit sector won’t fill the gap. This will require leadership by Government, but if we are to create truly universal access to childhood education in regional Australia, it might be what is needed.

I’m inspired by the work of organisations such as Thrive by Five, the Parenthood, the Mitchell Institute and the Centre for Policy Development, who are showing us that a better childcare system is possible. 

I would also like to note the commitment of my state counterpart Annabelle Cleeland, the Nationals Member for Euroa, for her ongoing engagement and work on addressing childcare shortages in north-east Victoria.  

Universal childcare is a policy I support.