Goulburn: Long childcare waitlists, parents having to compete for spots

A new study has found that Goulburn is a daycare ‘desert’, with parents having to compete over spots for their children, who are being put on waiting lists stretching up to a year and a half.

A new study has found that Goulburn is a daycare ‘desert’, with parents having to compete over spots for their children, who are being put on waiting lists stretching up to a year and a half.

The report from Victoria University affiliated Mitchell Institute revealed that some three million people in NSW are living in what it qualifies as ‘childcare deserts’, which are places where there are more than three kids under five for every childcare place available.

Almost all of NSW’s childcare deserts are in regional and rural NSW and Goulburn is one of those places, sitting at a figure of 3.07 children for every childcare place available.

Local childcare centres have spoken of long waiting lists, with Kyli Grech from Goulburn Family Day Care even saying that in her experience, it’s been “4 / 5 parents vying for the one spot available.”

“We have at least 30 families on a waiting list with a minimum 3-6 month wait for full-time care,” Ms Grech said.

Goodstart Early Learning centre also said that they have “an intensive waitlist which is increasing weekly.”

Children having some outdoor fun with a childcare educator at Goodstart Early Learning Centre

Having previously worked at a childcare centre in Camden, which had an “abundance of space,” Ms Grech noticed a stark difference in Goulburn.

“Having access to childcare is difficult here,” Ms Grech said.

“People are ringing every day for availability, whether it’s family day care or long day care.”

Another childcare worker, Cassandra Brown, who is the Director of Lilac Early Learning Centre, said her childcare is also “quite full”.

“At the moment we have 10 families on the waitlist for June / July, mostly for children moving into the nursery room,” Ms Brown said.

The report’s lead author, Dr Peter Hurley, said that in regional areas “People are talking about getting their child on waiting lists before they even get pregnant.”

Ms Brown said that five families had recently enrolled and needed extra days, which is a trend she’s seeing.

“A lot of families are trying to get back into the workforce and need extra days, and I don’t have those days available,” Ms Brown said.

“Tina” a local teacher and mum of four said she is struggling to return to work full-time, having put her child on a waitlist eight months ago with no result.

“Two of my children are at school, one in preschool and a four month old that I’m trying to get into care for me to return to work as a full-time teacher in July,” Tina said.

“I put her on the wait list in June /July last year at the centre where all my kids have gone, where my third is still enrolled.

“They said they cannot guarantee a spot even though I gave in utero notice!”

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She thinks waiting lists have worsened in the area.

“Things are definitely getting worse, with my other children I also gave notice and had no issues finding a place,” Tina said.

Her baby is currently on the waitlist at several childcare centres and she is hoping to get a spot soon.

The report notes that women living in childcare deserts were less likely to be in the workforce while they had children under five.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get a spot,” Tina said.

“If there isn’t space available at centres to allow me to go back to work, I’m afraid I’ll be forced to not return.”

Another mother, Lindy, was told by a childcare centre to call back at the end of the year due to no spaces being available.

“They said they can’t discuss anything until then,” Lindy said.

For some children, there’s no seat left at the table, with childcare waiting lists only increasing. Picture: Goodstart Early Learning Centre

Parents, Dan and Morgan Todd, said their three year-old daughter was put on waitlists in August 2021 and were told she wouldn't be able to get a placement until 2023 – a year and a half later.

Their daughter is currently on three different waitlists.

“They said they can only accept children in the year before starting school unless we opted for childcare at significantly higher rates and even then only one centre had a position,” the Todds’ said.

“One preschool was beautiful but said their placement is a 12-month duration and it’s rare to get a position once the year has begun.

“ — And as much as they would love to accept three-year-olds, they simply can’t.”

Due to the smaller size of childcare centres and long waiting lists, childcare workers have had to prioritise children attending school the following year to support their transition.

“We never had these issues in our previous town with our eldest,” the Todds’ said.

The parents also experienced issues with enrolling their autistic son into childcare and believe children with disabilities should be prioritised.

“He never got to attend preschool which has made school transition for this year incredibly difficult,” the Todds’ said.

“Children with additional needs are supposed to be the highest level of priority, but also all children deserve the experience of childcare, as well as parents deserving more work and study options.”

Recently, local member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman announced that Aboriginal children and children from low income families in the Goulburn electorate will be getting additional support of 600 hours for childhood education in the two years prior to school.

SDN Children’s Services, Crookwell Preschool and Lady McKell in Goulburn were each awarded $9900 in addition to Big Fat Smile Group in Bundanoon, Robertson and Reynolds Street Goulburn awarded $10,000.

“Early learning services play a critical role in supporting children and families,” Ms Tuckerman said.

“It’s fantastic to see this funding being made available to support the work of these services in the Goulburn electorate.”