New Toolkit Aims to Address Illawarra's Critical Childcare Shortage
More than seventy per cent of young children in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region live in areas experiencing a severe shortage of early childhood education and care services. This pressing issue has prompted the development and trial of a new toolkit designed specifically to promote the establishment of childcare centres within apartment buildings, business precincts, and community centres across the region.
A Guide for Developers and Providers
The innovative toolkit provides developers, businesses, and childcare providers with a comprehensive guide. It outlines the entire process, highlights the significant benefits, and details key considerations for successfully integrating childcare facilities into other spaces. This initiative represents a collaborative effort to tackle a problem that has been straining families and hindering economic growth.
"Huge Waiting Lists" and Economic Impact
Anita Kumar, the chief executive officer of childcare provider ECTARC, emphasised the scale of the crisis. She reported a "huge waiting list" throughout the Illawarra Shoalhaven, with some areas seeing three children waiting for every single available spot. "That's not acceptable," Ms Kumar stated firmly.
ECTARC is one of several key organisations partnering to deliver this toolkit. The collaboration includes the NSW government, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation of Councils, Business Illawarra, and Big Fat Smile. Ms Kumar stressed that every child deserves access to quality early childhood education, and supporting this growth is vital for the region's future prosperity.
A Business and Community Imperative
Ms Kumar pointed to the expanding health sector, which employs a large female workforce, as a prime example of an industry that desperately requires adequate childcare support to sustain its growth. Coralie McCarthy, director of Business Illawarra, echoed these concerns from an employer's perspective.
Ms McCarthy, who first engaged with the project while at Shoalhaven City Council, said members reported employees struggling to return from maternity leave due to the lack of available childcare. "It's a really critical issue for businesses, and it really matters to community and capacity-building, and it should be a right for everyone," she asserted. The shortage also poses a significant challenge in attracting new workers to the Illawarra region.
Quality and Infrastructure Benefits
Ms Kumar clarified that the toolkit is not solely about increasing the number of childcare places. It is equally focused on ensuring that new investments create high-quality environments that properly cater to children's educational and welfare needs. A spokesperson for the Premier's Department highlighted the toolkit's promoted approach, noting it helps share infrastructure costs, clarifies approval processes, and provides crucial support for working families.
Existing Models and Expert Calls for Change
There are already successful examples of co-located early childhood centres in the region, such as Kids Uni at the University of Wollongong and facilities within residential apartment complexes. Back in 2024, Dr Summer May Finlay, who researched the financial impact of the childcare shortage on Illawarra families with Belinda Jackson, advocated for this very solution.
Dr Finlay argued that childcare should be provided by businesses and integrated directly into new developments from the start. "Childcare is an essential part of a healthy economy and I think it needs to be built into the planning legislation," she said.
Regional Expansion Planned
Following the pilot program in the Illawarra Shoalhaven, the NSW government plans to expand the availability of this toolkit to other parts of regional NSW. The resource is currently accessible online, offering a potential blueprint for other communities facing similar childcare crises.
