- Media Release
COUNCIL TO ADDRESS CHILDCARE SHORTAGE
MEDIA RELEASE - 1 JULY 2021
Photo - Members of the KELCS Working Group, Kristen Wilks, Mayor Kay Rasheed and CEO Nat Traeger pictured at Kingston Community School
Kingston District Council has taken a large step forward in addressing the steadily growing demand for childcare services in its community. A recent survey has shown that current childcare arrangements are far from adequate and in fact, the needs have escalated since the last survey was undertaken in mid-2019, with 61% of respondents saying the current service is not meeting their needs and 86% saying lack of care impacts on their ability to take up work or study.
Mayor Kay Rasheed said, “the lack of childcare placements has become a critical issue for our community, with parents unable to return to the workforce”. “This is causing a compounding affect, with our businesses struggling to find enough employees to maintain existing operations, let alone expand to meet the growing demand for their services” she said.
Chief Executive Officer Nat Traeger said “we workshopped the issue at an informal gathering last month, and Council acknowledged that childcare was its number one priority to address”. In response to this, the Kingston Early Learning & Childcare Services (KELCS) Working Group sought an urgent meeting with the Hon John Gardner, Minister for Education to discuss the problem.
The group, which comprises members of the public, Council staff, Mayor, Chief Executive Officer, and elected members, have been advocating to improve childcare services since 2017. It was therefore pleasing that Minister Gardner’s response was swift, with him agreeing to meet representatives at Parliament House on 26 May 2021.
KELCS Chairperson Kirsty Starling said, “the meeting was positive, with Minister Gardner acknowledging the significance of the problem for our community”. In a crucial move forward, the Minister offered to provide funding to engage a suitable consultant to develop a business case for childcare in Kingston. “This project will see further investigation and assessment of the need for childcare services, as well as identify operational requirements, including costs to build on Department of Education Land” she said.
Council welcomed the offer at its meeting held this week, with Mayor Rasheed saying, “to have a strategic plan, business plan, estimated build cost and operational model will be a huge step forward”.
Ms Traeger confirmed that Council will take the lead in the project, finalising the terms of reference for the project and engaging an appropriate consultant. “Our KELCS Working Group have been instrumental in getting us to this stage, and we will continue to work alongside them every step of the way to achieve a great outcome for our community”.
- ENDS -
Contact:
Nat Traeger
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | KINGSTON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 08 8767 2033 | E: ceo@kingstondc.sa.gov.au