Come Back Next Year: Childcare in Melbourne
Adam Bandt MP
Federal Member for Melbourne
6 January 2016
A new report on the availability of childcare in the Federal electorate of Melbourne shows that demand continues to outstrip supply in the nation’s fastest-growing city.
Come Back Next Year is a report of a survey of childcare centres in the Federal electorate of Melbourne, conducted by Adam Bandt MP. The report shows that while there has been a small change in the number of centres reporting vacancies, much work remains to be done.
Flexible, high quality, affordable childcare is essential if parents are to balance the demands of work and caring for young children -- but too many parents are still struggling to find appropriate childcare when they need it.
Among the findings of the report are:
- 92% of centres had a waiting list for childcare places
- The average reported waiting list time for 0-2 year old children was 10.1 months
- 50% of centres had no vacancies for 0-2 year olds, with only 19% of centres having places available on all days
- 19% of centres had no vacancies for 3-4 year olds, with only 43% of centres having places available on all days
- Nearly 6 out of 10 centres would offer more places if they had the resources available to expand their physical space
Adam Bandt MP
Federal Member for Melbourne
6 January 2016