Planning for a decade of growth in regional Victoria can make ‘childcare deserts’ a thing of the past

Regional Victoria will need more than 100 new kindergartens, larger TAFEs and expanded schools in growing regional centres to improve access to quality education as these areas grow.

Infrastructure Victoria’s latest report, Learning for life: preparing kindergarten, school and TAFE infrastructure for the future, finds that much of this demand will be in Bendigo, the La Trobe Valley, Ballarat and Geelong.

The state’s independent advisory body has found that the Victorian Government needs to invest in early education infrastructure across rural and remote Victoria, which faces a severe lack of kindergartens and is not serviced by the private and not-for-profit sectors.

“People living in rural and remote Victoria, like parts of Gippsland, the La Trobe Valley and Greater Shepparton are more likely to live in ‘childcare deserts’. These are locations where there are more than 3 children for every childcare place,” said Infrastructure Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dr Jonathan Spear.

“The Victorian Government has already committed to 50 new kindergartens in communities where early education is not accessible. Our modelling shows that areas like these will need more than 100 extra kindergartens to meet demand over the next 12 years. Private and not-for-profit providers will meet some - but not all - of this demand. The government should direct its investment in areas where other providers are least likely to invest,” said Dr Spear.

Across all of Victoria, strong demand for kindergarten education over the next 5 years, much of it driven by the government’s policy to increase learning opportunities for 3- and 4-year-olds, will mean more investment is needed in the kindergarten sector.

“Private and not-for-profit providers are less likely to deliver kindergartens in regional areas,” said Dr Spear. “The government can make the most of its funding by filling that gap, meet its plan for increasing early education for 3- and 4-year-olds and deliver the largest benefits to communities.”

The modelling shows that many regional government schools will be able to meet future enrolment needs by expanding existing schools.

“In the longer term, places like central and outer Geelong, the Surf Coast region, Warragul and the Macedon Ranges can expand existing schools to meet demand. Without the need to purchase new land and build whole new schools, the government can invest in delivering better teaching and learning environments,” said Dr Spear.

The report also finds opportunities to redesign TAFE infrastructure to meet future demand and support a better learning environment. Together, TAFEs in regional Victoria will need around 50,000 square metres of extra teaching floorspace to meet future demand.

By upgrading regional TAFE campuses, particularly in areas of future high demand such as Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley, regional Victoria can help meet the state’s skills shortage in key industries.

“Victoria’s TAFEs will need more facilities over the next decade to train the workers needed to help fill shortfalls in industries like construction, energy and healthcare. This is on top of the new campuses the government has already committed to,” Dr Spear said.

“By 2030, regional Victoria’s TAFE campuses will need around 60% more space than they currently have. Updating campus facilities and locations in regional centres and increasing maintenance funding can improve access to training.”

Co-locating kindergartens on TAFE campuses can help people balance study with other commitments. This will provide more opportunity for more people who would otherwise be unable to access further education. Campuses like SuniTAFE and La Trobe University in Mildura are already co-located with a kindergarten and other services.

“Many things go into delivering students a high quality education - skilled and experienced teachers, student and parent engagement, a strong curriculum and quality education infrastructure are all factors. Access to education gives more Victorians the chance to learn new skills and get a good job,” Dr Spear said. “With long-term published plans, updated as areas change and grow, more Victorians can access quality education and learning facilities for life.”

Media enquiries:

Lydia Hanna, lydia.hanna@infrastructurevictoria.com.au, 0416 204 446

Madeleine Brennan, madeleine.brennan@infrastructurevictoria.com.au, 0402 715 577