The Kiama region has been declared a childcare desert in a new study conducted by the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University.

The findings define a childcare desert as an area where there are more than three children per childcare place, or less than 0.333 places per child aged four or under.

In Kiama, between 3.6 and 7.2 children compete for each childcare place, depending on the neighbourhood.

In Gerringong, the figures are even worse. Between 5.4 and 9.2 children fight for each spot.

Kiama Downs resident Lucy Abood has spent the last 12 months applying for childcare for her two year old son.

“The situation here is lacking, everyone is booked up. The great quality providers are in huge demand, and you’ve got no chance of getting in. Even the less sought-after providers with the lower accreditation scores, they’re completely full,” says Lucy.

“I think there’s been a demographic change in Kiama over the last ten years. It’s traditionally been a retirement area, but it seems that a lot more young families are moving here, particularly post-pandemic.”

The study examined the relationship between the availability of childcare and relative socio-economic measures. Researchers found that areas with lower socio-economic indicators face the worst conditions.

It is particularly hard to find care for children under two

However, despite being in a relatively high socio-economic percentile, the Kiama area has an absence of service that’s on par with far more disadvantaged regions.

The Bugle spoke to childcare providers and parents in the area and heard from them about the shortages that are making parents desperate, particularly for the under two years bracket.

“We don’t have any vacancies and our waitlist is two years long,” says Carissa Hudson of Kiama Academy of Early Learning.

“For the under twos, we’re forever getting phone calls. It’s sad because this affects everybody.”

Another childcare provider, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they have spots available, but not for under twos, and that it is often hard to match the vacancies with the parents’ requirements.

A Gerringong mother who didn’t wish to be named told us she has also experienced difficulty securing child care for her son.

“I have serious problems with the hours of childcare in Gerringong. There’s only one centre that opens at 7.30, and I can’t get a spot. There’s no way I can get to work in time.

“It is a desert, especially for babies. It’s really a government issue because they’re making it so hard for childcare centres to look after the younger kids, but then not providing any support.

“When they make a new housing development area like Elambra, they should be putting childcare services in too. They’re making room for families but they’re not putting in the right infrastructure to support them.”

Kiama Council have released the following statement in relation to its role in childcare services in the area:

“Kiama Council is active in the childcare space as a landlord. We rent properties to private and community-based childcare providers in our municipality.

“This includes Council-owned buildings that are leased to two separate, privately-run childcare centres: Jamberoo Preschool and Big Fat Smile in Kiama Downs/Gainsborough.

“We manage the hiring of community halls across the Municipality, many of which have regular hirers who provide childcare services such as playgroups, such as Kiama Downs playgroup at the North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre.

“In addition to childminding services at the Leisure Centre, Council also facilitates a regular ISLHD Baby Health Clinic, which is held at Gerringong Library and Museum.”

Other councils are more active in the provision and support of childcare services.

Natasha Osmond-Dreyer, former Kiama Preschool President, has lived in the area with her children for nearly eight years, and believes the conditions have worsened over time.

“We have a lot more families moving from Sydney for example, who are doing the seachange thing. You would think if you wanted to keep your community attractive for younger families, childcare would be one of the things you would address,” says Natasha.

“Certainly with COVID, people are more reticent to send their kids to a bigger centre where they’re more likely to pick up illnesses.

“It would help to have support from Council for people that want to set up those smaller family day care operations.”