Councils from across south-west Victoria are calling on the Commonwealth to boost funding and support to ease the region’s childcare crisis.
Right now, there aren’t enough childcare centres, workers or available spots across the south-west. It’s making life difficult for families and employers, and acting as a handbrake on our local economy.
SouthWest Victoria Alliance is today releasing its 2025 federal election platform, which is centred around a push for more federal support to combat the shortages.
The Alliance comprises the Warrnambool City Council and the shires of Colac, Corangamite, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Glenelg and Colac-Otway, with representatives from Deakin University and Wannon Water.
“South-west Victoria is riddled with childcare deserts,” SWVA Chair Ben Blain (Mayor, Warrnambool City Council) said.
“Our childcare shortages must be a top-tier issue as we head towards the federal election.”
“We’ll be meeting with Ministers, MPs and candidates as the election approaches to make sure our childcare challenges are understood and addressed.”
The shortages stem from a combination of factors, including small and dispersed populations, staff shortages, difficulties establishing new centres and a lack of adequate incentives for providers.
In addition to more direct support and incentives for childcare operators and workers, SWVA is pushing for $5 million from the Federal Government to establish a new Childcare Centre of Excellence at Deakin University, to train the next generation of local childcare workers and design a new model for rural childcare education.
By the numbers
The below table shows how many children there are for each childcare place across the south-west.
The data comes from a 2024 Mitchell Institute analysis of places, availability and demand.
| Camperdown | 1.27 | Moyne West | 2.38 | |
| Colac | 2.03 | Moyne East | 4.23 | |
| Colac surrounds | 5.37 | Otway | 2.02 | |
| Corangamite North | 1.97 | Portland | 1.93 | |
| Corangamite South | 3.87 | Southern Grampians | 3.29 | |
| Glenelg | 3.69 | Warrnambool North | 1.94 | |
| Hamilton | 2.57 | Warrnambool South | 1.99 |
Broader calls
As part of its 2025 federal election platform, the SouthWest Victoria Alliance is also pushing for:
- Local roads and infrastructure upgrades
- The development of the Hamilton Art Gallery
- The establishment of a Local Government Sustainability Fund
- A Small Grants Program to help councils boost local wellbeing and foster community pride
- The development of a Hydrogen Innovation Plan for south-west Victoria.
Have your say
SWVA is urging all south-west families and employers to sign a change.org petition in support of more federal action on childcare.
The petition will demonstrate to MPs and candidates the level of community frustration with the current shortages and the real-world impacts of living in a childcare desert.
This petition is being launched today. You can add your support and share your story at change.org/SouthWestChildcare
