With outback towns stuck in a cycle of workforce shortages and a dire need for childcare, parents are taking care of each other's children so they can keep their jobs.
The Queensland government last month responded to the crisis by granting one childcare centre a waiver to remain open without the 50 per cent of qualified staff required by regulation.It's feeding time for the Blacket family's rescue animals and all four children are helping their mum round up kangaroo joeys, donkeys, and horses at their homestead in outback Queensland.
"There was a young woman working at the clinic, a single mum, she didn't have anyone to watch her baby and we're always needing healthcare people out here," Ms Blacket said. The Queensland government responded to the crisis last month by granting one Queensland childcare centre a waiver so they could remain open without the 50 per cent of qualified staff required by regulation.Nearly 600km from Boulia, on the banks of the Flinders River, Sharn Greenaway from the Hughenden Kindergarten and Early Childhood Centre said the waiver at their facility was a lifeline.
"It was affecting our community, it was affecting our staff, and it wasn't a viable way to run our centre." "It could become quite dangerous really, if you can't look after the certain amount that you've got."A new report has found Australia's childcare system doesn't work for many families — and it's not just about the money'It was pointed slightly down': Murder-accused describes fatal struggle over shotgun in campers trial
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