Three years on from from the last ‘strategy’, the childcare shortage crisis in Port Hedland is worse than ever

Agonising waitlists, stressed parents, facilities stretched beyond capacity and students kicked out of day care. That is the state of Hedland’s current childcare system according to locals and service providers crying out for changes to early learning in the Pilbara town which has a chronic lack of qualified educators and facilities. The Town recently reviewed recommendations of the 2021 Assessing Childcare Needs in Hedland report which revealed an urgent need for childcare reform. It comes off the back of the 2018 childcare strategy to help reduce waitlists, bolster facilities and hire more teaching staff. But three years on and despite a number of initiatives, including the transformation of South Hedland Library into a child-minding facility, there are still significant gaps in child care. A survey of 305 people conducted as part of the report showed the majority of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that childcare services were able to cater to the demographic needs of families. Almost half of those surveyed said they had been on a waitlist for more than six months. The Labor Government has promised to improve child care in regions such as the Pilbara. Last year, local mum and educator Julie McLaughlin transformed her home into a child-minding facility to ease what she called the “absolutely horrendous” state of child care in town. We deserve careers just as much as the blokes Local mum and business owner Desiree Grossmith said more needed to be done to attract and retain childcare workers so women could pursue careers in the mining town. “Not only is there a shortage but there aren’t enough qualified staff to work them and afford living in the Pilbara,” she said. “It’s a big deal especially for women in the workforce and (those) who’d like to return. We deserve careers just as much as the blokes.” Mrs Grossmith said she wanted to see early educators recognised with better pay. “The costs (of child care) are extraordinary but it’s a really important job. “This town will always be transient ... but (if) we are not paying childcare workers (well) no one will stay.” BHP families preferred in fight for spots Megan Brenton moved to Hedland in 2019 with her FIFO husband and nine-month-old to set up their family’s financial future. But a 21-month wait for child care meant Ms Brenton was out of work. Despite finding a placement last September, her now two-year-old daughter lost the spot to a BHP family. A letter sent to Ms Brenton said the provider “needed to make changes to my enrolments in line with increasing my BHP ratio.” Ms Brenton said nothing could replace learning at a qualified centre. “(Arabelle) is at an age where she really benefits from being at day care rather than just being home with me, as much as I love being home with her, I’m not a teacher,” she said. Parents mission to find day care Hedland newcomer and project engineer Svetlana Khaykina said it was a “mission” to find early learning places in Hedland for her three and six year old. The family moved to town in January for her work and have struggled to find day care. Ms Khaykina said her family was disadvantaged as was the town. “It is that big of an issue affecting workforce availability on all sorts of levels and the town is screaming for more people in the workforce,” she said. The mum of two said her husband had to turn down work to look after the kids.