Childcare Workforce

GM Daniel Fletcher and Family - Dalby (15).jpg

Western Downs Regional Council is advocating for increased access to childcare services through local, face-to-face delivery of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) training to help grow our local workforce and support families across the region. 

We know that access to quality childcare is essential - not just for families, but for the broader economy and liveability of our communities. That’s why Council is calling on government to invest in local education solutions that meet the needs of our growing region. 

Why Childcare Access Matters 

The Western Downs is experiencing strong population growth, a higher-than-average fertility rate, and increasing workforce participation. These factors are driving a growing demand for childcare, but current services are struggling to keep up. 

The Regional Australia Institute presented a 'Maranoa and Western Downs childcare study'(PDF, 8MB) in 2023, which found that the Western Downs has centre-based long day care availability for only 22% of children aged 0 to 4, and waiting lists that exceed 12 months in many areas. 

What This Means for Our Region 

Workforce Participation: Without access to childcare, many parents and carers are unable to return to work - limiting household income and reducing the available workforce across sectors like health, education, agriculture, and energy. Furthermore, workforce shortages prevent existing childcare services form expanding or operating at full capacity. 

Liveability: Childcare is a critical service that supports families and makes our region an attractive place to live and work. Without it, we risk losing skilled workers to other areas. 

Economic Growth: A strong childcare sector supports the broader economy by enabling more people to participate in the workforce, and by creating jobs in early childhood education itself. 

Council’s Advocacy 

According to the 2021 Deloitte Workforce Gap Analysis(PDF, 659KB), the Western Downs is projected to face a workforce shortfall of 7,788 positions by 2030 - up from 4,610 in 2020. The childcare sector alone is expected to see a shortfall grow from 15 to 36 positions over the same period. 

Council believes that investing in local training and workforce development, and government incentives (such as wage reform) which attract people to work in the industry, are key to addressing this gap and ensuring that families in the Western Downs have access to the services they need. 

By growing our local childcare workforce we can help centres operate at full capacity, reduce waiting lists, and support the broader workforce across all industries. 

Council is actively advocating for: 

  • Increased childcare places across the region to meet growing demand. 
  •  Incentives and funding to support the local delivery of ECEC training - helping to grow our own workforce. 
  •  Support for existing providers to expand services and attract new operators to the region. 
  •  A stronger, more sustainable childcare workforce to meet future demand. 
Back to top