Mount Gambier childcare costs rank fourth most expensive in South Australia

Mums and dads in SA’s biggest regional town are being hit with some of the highest childcare fees in the state – if their child is lucky enough to secure a spot.

Mount Gambier’s childcare fees are among the highest in South Australia as families struggle to with inundated waitlists.

The average cost of long day care comes in at $121.94 per day – the fourth most expensive in the state and above the national average of $112.73 – according to analysis by KindiCare.

Mount Gambier families are being hit with fees only cheaper than Seaford Meadows ($132 per day), Norwood ($127) and Sturt ($122).

Mount Gambier's Amy Watt just wants the best childcare centre for her son Edward. Picture: Jessica Ball

The Parenthood executive director Georgie Dent said the ranking would come as no surprise to local families who had become accustomed to rising fees.

“The reality is that Australian families pay some of the highest out of pocket fees for early childhood education and care in the world and it’s a struggle,” Ms Dent said.

“Investing more in early education and care will pay dividends in supporting more women into paid work, grow employment in a female-dominated industry and give young children the education and care that will help them thrive.

“Government assistance for early learning and care is lagging behind the actual cost of quality early learning and care services.”

While Mount Gambier mum Amy Watt said childcare was expensive she was happy spend the money ensure the safety of miracle baby Edward.

For the past year, the now 20-month-old has been attending Community Kids Early Education Centre twice a week but it was a long process finding him a spot.

After navigating the waitlists, Mrs Watt said the family is still searching for a third day of care and were lucky to have family to lean on.

“Having an IVF baby, they become a bit of a special baby anyway, and being my first and a bit of an older mum I needed to be sure of the care that he was going into,” she said.

Mount Gambier's Amy Watt and son Edward. Picture: Jessica Ball

“We had applied at every single childcare in Mount Gambier.

“Our top priority was actually Goodstart Early Learning but over 12 months ago we were number 60 and we still have not to this day being contacted about a place.

“We don’t have enough childcare centres and even then, if we had an extra one or two or even three, there may still be waitlists.”

For Mrs Watt and husband Corey, the finances work out after accounting for everything the centre supplies, costs of staying home and government subsidies.

Importantly, it afforded her the opportunity to return to work

“It was a struggle because I felt guilty because that was my child, I decided to have my child and I shouldn’t be getting others to look after him but watching him and the educators at the childcare I couldn’t wish for anything better,” she said.

“Being able to return to work has an impact on our mental health, our confidence and getting to be us as a person not as mum.”

Thrive by Five chief executive Jay Weatherill said Mount Gambier deserved better.

“When you consider rising out of pocket early learning and childcare costs against the backdrop of stagnant wage growth and a recovering economy, it’s not hard to imagine the incredible strain on household budgets,” he said.

“I believe making early learning and childcare more affordable is one of the most effective ways of growing our economy, creating jobs, empowering women to participate more fully in the workplace and giving children the best start in life.

“The reform of early learning and childcare is expected to be on the agenda when national cabinet meets again in July.

“A high-quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning system must be a top priority.”