Rateypayers should directly subsidise the tertiary education costs of budding childcare workers according to the principals of nine schools and kindergartens across Millicent and district.
They have jointly signed a letter to Wattle Range Council which says such funding support is needed to meet a significant lack of qualified childcare workers.
According to the educators, the lack of childcare staff means teachers with young families cannot secure places for their children.
The signatories say the recent opening of a new childcare centre in Mount Gambier has worsened the staffing situation as it attracted staff from Millicent with higher pay.
“A consideration for Wattle Range Council would be to provide council-supported incentives that promote studying Early Childhood Education within our schools and community, to cover TAFE fees and to provide scholarships to undertake training at universities,” stated the principals.
They are also seeking the establishment of traineeships connected to the council-owned Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre in Millicent as a way of retaining local recipients.
Wattle Range Council already offers some scholarships in various academic disciplines to tertiary students from the council area.
Among the nine signatories are Millicent High School principal Todd Watson, Millicent North Kindergarten director Tracy Pratt and Mount Burr Primary School principal Anne-Marie Fitzgerald.
The letter forms part of the agenda of the September monthly council meeting which meets in Millicent tonight.
A lengthy report on childcare issues has been prepared by council chief executive Ben Gower.
Mr Gower noted the educators had highlighted the impact on the community of a lack of childcare staff and hence the shortage of childcare places.
With the Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre in Millicent having a long waiting list, Mr Gower has suggested an innovative way of constructing a new childcare facility in the town.
“One innovative model that is worth considering is the development of a joint aged care/childcare facility that can serve both ends of the age spectrum,” Mr Gower said.
“In 2019, the ABC broadcast a unique social experiment called Old Peoples Home For 4 Year Olds that brought together elderly people in a retirement community with a group of four-year-old children.
“The results were astounding, and the programs researchers documented considerable physical and mental health benefits for all participants – both young and old.
“Aged care and childcare are both heavily subsidised by the Federal Government and an innovative project of this nature could attract significant capital investment in a highly competitive grant funding environment.
“Significant economies of scale could be achieved, as both service types require similar administrative support services such as catering, cleaning, and laundry services.
“It would also attract a significant amount of interest from the academic world and offer medical and other research opportunities with additional ongoing grant funding potential.
“Finally, it would be an innovative and rewarding place to work which would greatly assist with the attraction and retention of staff.
“Council staff have already had high level conceptual discussions with a local aged care provider who has expressed a similar interest in exploring the development of a joint aged care/childcare facility.”
