Childcare in focus at council meeting

Childcare access in the Narrabri Shire was put under the spotlight at last week’s ordinary council meeting when councillors were asked to endorse a study about the issue.

A study looking at the childcare skills shortage and investigating how NSC can improve the current situation was considered ‘particularly important given the shire is expected to experience economic growth, increased employment, as well as an increased population over the next five to ten years’.

These predictions follow a Narrabri Shire Council area being identified as a Special Activation Precinct.

The study, by consultant KU Childcare Services, covered three components. The first component, a childcare needs analysis, to identify current and future demand for childcare in Narrabri Shire.

The second, childcare options, to identify options for Narrabri Shire to consider to support families with their child care needs and challenges.

The third component, service modelling and feasibility assessment for a long day care centre, to provide advice should a childcare centre be established in Narrabri Shire by council or by an external organisation. This component of the project was completed in November 2022.

“Whilst the analysis revealed that current and projected demand would not support the development and construction of a childcare centre, there is without doubt a need for more childcare,” states a report presented in the February council business paper about the KU Childcare Services report findings. This need was also strongly expressed through the community consultation across the shire.”

“The study acknowledges that a purpose-built childcare centre in the township of Narrabri will not address all the issues raised and would not be accessible to all families who live and work outside the township,” states a report presented in the February council business paper about the KU Childcare Services report findings.

“To address some of the issues identified, the following options were identified:

• Expand and make more accessible existing long day care services

• Expand family day care

• Build on the quality of current services in Narrabri Shire.”

Councillors voted to ‘note’ rather than endorse the Child Care Needs Analysis, Child Care Options and Service Modelling and Feasibility Reports prepared by consultant KU Childcare Services.

“I certainly wasn’t happy with endorsing this report but noting it I am happy with,” said Cr Cathy Redding.

“I hear a lot in the community and there is a big issue with childcare.”

Cr Lisa Richardson put the recommendation forward but described the KU Childcare Services report as ‘conflicting’.

“They say we need spots but then say there is no need for a facility,” said Cr Richardson.

“So, I’m torn on what their outcome is.”

Cr Richardson said a lack of childcare access was “not helping our shire, it’s not helping our economy, it’s not helping our families.

“There is a need in our shire.

“Our job is to advocate for the community.”

Mayor Ron Campbell said the study pointed to staff shortages being a problem, and therefore building more childcare facilities wasn’t necessarily the solution.

“I’m an advocate for childcare,” said Cr Campbell.

“We don’t have adequate childcare largely due to staffing.”

Cr Campbell referred to information shared at a councillor briefing held in December with KU Childcare Services and commented the study indicated, “There’s enough places, they just don’t have the staff to fulfil the places.

“Do you build another facility knowing there are placements elsewhere, but you can’t fill the staff.”

Feedback noted in the KU Childcare Services Childcare Needs Analysis Report was referred to during the councillors’ debate, “Interviewees and focus group participants believed these vacancies resulted from shortages of qualified and experienced early childhood teachers and educators.”

Cr Rohan Boehm said he felt the study’s ‘recommendations ignored the evidence’.

“We don’t have enough childcare places,” said Cr Boehm.

“I talk to people all the time and they say we don’t have enough places.”

“This is a major issue in our community,” added Cr Greg Lamont.

At one point, during the discussion about how to solve access issues, Cr Campbell said there was a ‘disaster’ in childcare – “We have major issues in childcare, as does everyone else,” he said.

“What can we do to make it work?”.

Councillors floated different solutions to the problem, discussing a range of ideas and the need to work with current providers to find a way to recruit more childcare educators to fix the access issues impacting Narrabri Shire families and the broader community.

“Maybe there needs to be a specific careers day around childcare,” said Cr Redding.

“Is it possible to form a small committee … if you don’t have someone to drive it, it’s not going to happen.”

Cr Tiemens said childcare was “one of the biggest problems in the shire”.

“I think this is something the council should step up to and use our ability to try and start some traineeships … get a serious strategy together to address this,” said Cr Tiemens.

“Many of our employment problems are to do with people not being able to get childcare places.

“Narrabri Hospital missed out on a qualified doctor because she could not get childcare.

“This is one of the biggest problems for Narrabri at the moment.

“It is affecting the entire community,” added Cr Tiemens.

“They’re screaming at us as councillors … we can show some thought leadership and really do something about this.”

Councillors also discussed what other shires were doing to address childcare staff shortages and highlighted the need to consider better options for carers and parents who are shift workers.

Some councillors raised concerns about the attractiveness of roles in the profession, pointing out the extensive training educators need to undertake and the low rates of pay for childcare workers.

“The salary and remuneration aren’t good,” said Cr Clements, who commented that there was “some valuable information” in the KU Childcare Services study.

Cr Clements said one of ‘the quickest ways to sort it out’ is to offer regional providers temporary exemptions in relation to staff-to-child ratios and flexibility with the qualified role ratio requirements in place.

“I’m not saying you do it forever, just give people the opportunity to get things going,” he said.

“Across the electorate of Barwon, you can’t get childcare places because the childcare workers can’t get their child in childcare.”

NSC general manager Rob Williams said the opportunity for people to study and be trained to work in the sector was there, but there was only one student enrolled in Certificate III – Early

Childhood Education and Care course at Narrabri TAFE.

A suggestion that childcare workers could be employed under the office of local government structure was also floated during the conversation, however, Mr Williams said he wasn’t sure what council could offer and, “Council is being asked to fill the void …when we’re actually struggling with our own resource.”

NSC director of planning and sustainability Donna Ausling gave some insightful background about the prospects of three new childcare centres opening in the Narrabri Shire.

It’s understood a 48-place childcare centre has been approved for Narrabri and an 80-place childcare centre for Wee Waa, with an application received for another 60-place childcare centre in Wee Waa too.

Ms Ausling also commented that unfortunately the salary of qualified childcare workers was not attractive and said, “people can be earning more money at Coles or Woolworths”.

“Just some context to help with decision-making.”

Background provided in the council business paper states as part of the 2022/2023 Operational Plan council was to conduct a childcare skills shortage study and investigate how it can work to improve the current situation.

“The childcare suite of documents were presented at a councillor briefing session held on December 6, 2022.

“Following receipt of feedback from the elected body, amendments were made to the draft study to provide greater clarity regarding the need for more childcare across the shire and that a purpose-built childcare centre in Narrabri would not address many of these issues.”

External consultation included: community members via survey and additional engagement activities, KU Childcare Services, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and additional engagement activities and local childcare services.

NSC visitor information centre coordinator, manager of tourism and cultural services and director of planning and sustainability were involved in the internal consultation.

Council obtained a grant for $64,510 from the NSW government to conduct the study.