Data reveals shocking truth of Kimberley childcare sector’s staffing crisis

New research has revealed childcare providers in the Kimberley are operating at two-thirds capacity, with centres unable to accept more children due to staff shortages. The study, released by the Kimberely Development Commission this week, found the severe worker shortages meant early childhood education and care and outside school hours care centres across the region were operating 31 per cent below capacity. That is despite the unprecedented demand for their services. According to the document, the Kimberley currently has 0.15 ECEC places per child 0-4 years, compared to the licenses capacity ratio of 0.50 for the Perth metro area. It was also found that the Kimberley currently forgoes an estimated $3.7 million annually in Commonwealth Child Care Subsidies. Up to 85 per cent of childcare costs can currently be subsidized. To resolve these problems, KDC claimed the Kimberley would need an additional 59 FTE staff, which would subsequently create almost 300 available spaces for children. KDC Chief Executive Chuck Berger said there are several factors contributing to the worker shortages. “A lack of affordable housing, perceived poor wages and conditions, and high attrition in training and workforce development were key drivers of the workforce shortage in the sectors,” Mr Berger said. It comes over six months after another report, conducted by Victoria University, revealed 86 per cent of regional WA was facing critical shortages in childcare. The same report also outed Kimberley as one of the worst affected regions. Mr Berger said the situation remains a major concern for employers and families in the Kimberley. “We know this is a national crisis, but in the Kimberley it is particularly acute given the already critical shortage of workers across many industries and the lower numbers of licensed places to begin with,” he said. “This situation is a serious economic concern for the region as childcare and after-school care are basic enablers of economic activity.”