How ‘childcare deserts’ in rural Australia impact parent and child wellbeing: An analysis of parental voices

This study explores the potential health implications for children, parents, carers and communities living in Australia's 'childcare desert' areas. Most families with children aged birth to five years have limited access to early childhood education and care in regional, rural, and remote Australia, creating 'childcare desert' communities. This poses a major challenge for workforce participation and can result in poorer education opportunities for children as well as potentially adverse health outcomes for some children and parents. Data from 155 parents and carers living in Australian regional, rural and remote communities about their experiences accessing ECEC services were used. We conducted a deductive analysis of the parents' experiences of barriers to access and the perceived impact on the health outcomes of family members. Our study revealed the struggles parents face accessing ECEC services and its potentially adverse health impacts on parents and their children when compared with the World Health Organization's Determinants of health criteria. The need for access to universal care is often argued in terms of the educational benefits for children. However, attention also needs to be given to the potential health impacts on parents, children and communities when they live in 'childcare deserts'. Our findings will be of interest to policy makers, and those who support children and parents.