Arabic version: فجوة رعاية الأطفال تُبعد الأمهات الماهرات عن العمل في ريف كوينزلاند

According to ABC News, a lack of childcare in the remote Queensland communities of Glenmorgan and Teelba is pushing skilled mothers out of the workforce as the area experiences a rise in young families.

Glenmorgan’s daycare closed in March after its organiser relocated, leaving Surat, 65 kilometres away, as the nearest daycare option. The neighbouring communities had a combined population of about 200 people in the 2021 census, but Emily McPhee estimates there are now almost 60 children under 12 in the area, most of them under five.

Ms McPhee, a former teacher and assistant principal, said she has been unable to work for the past few years. She said other mothers have also put careers in finance, agribusiness and other fields on hold to care for their children. Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland president Majella Fitzsimmons said the shortage has wider consequences for small communities because workers cannot take up jobs without early childhood places.

Families are also seeking a safe place for children to gather. Glenmorgan, about four-and-a-half hours west of Brisbane, has no playground or park. Parents are working on a locally led community playground project estimated to cost more than $200,000. For many families, the weekly travelling playgroup is their main social outing, although its future after next term is uncertain.

Western Downs Mayor Andrew Smith said council welcomed community wellbeing initiatives and was providing advice on the playground proposal. He said the region, like many across Australia, faced challenges attracting and retaining early childhood workers. Ms McPhee said families wanted infrastructure that would remain available even if services closed, and hoped rural children could have experiences equal to those in larger towns and cities.