Parents and carers with on-the-ground experiences of finding childcare on the Central Coast are being encouraged to share their stories in a new survey aimed at helping identify the sector’s key issues and future priorities.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said every Central Coast parent and carer’s early education story mattered.
“We want to acknowledge the very real concerns facing parents and carers with regards to accessing early childhood education on the Central Coast,” she said.
“The problems facing the sector right across the country are right here on the doorsteps of Central Coast families, parents, their carers and the wider community.
“While some issues date back to the pandemic baby boom, combined with more young families moving to the Coast – others are legacy issues that stem from a failure to plan for the future by the former government, which now require urgent attention.
“We know there are numerous barriers to families accessing quality early childhood education and care – from joining waitlists to distances travelled, cost increases, standards, availability, emotional impact and mental health challenges.
“We encourage Coastie parents who are seeking – or have sought – childcare services to share their on-the-ground experiences.
“Every story counts – and your honest and frank stories help to provide essential data for the government to take into consideration when planning for the future of early education on the Central Coast.”
Tesch praised the talented professionals working in the early childhood education sector.
“The role of our early educators is not to be understated,” she said.
“They make a real difference in the lives of our children – from helping develop essential numeracy and language skills to preparing them for formal education.
“I eagerly await the responses from this important survey and I look forward to working with my federal counterparts to help drive change in early childhood education across the Coast.”
Local mum Jess Coulson of Bensville said the lack of access to childcare was challenging.
“The early childhood education system reform is crucial to me as a full-time working mother with a 23-month-old son who has yet to experience childcare due to shortages,” she said.
Coulson, who currently engages a nanny (and is unable to claim childcare subsidy costs to help cover her wages), has not been able to get full-time childcare within a 60km radius for 2024.
She wants to see far-reaching reform in access to childcare, educator wages, local centre expansion, education accessibility and funding.
“In a significant move, the Commonwealth Government initiated an inquiry into the childcare industry.
“We’ve made strides, and the government is actively recognising the urgency of the situation.”
Also encouraging submissions is Central Coast business management consultant Mandy Millan, who is mentoring a number of clients looking to get into the early education space.
The Central Coast Early Childhood Education Survey can be completed at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/196gyszDW44261S3imMoXJijOEpq_C50KyKA4gTxwv88/viewform?edit_requested=true