New research shows educational disadvantage begins when children are as young as two if they cannot access childcare. As many as one in four Australians live in "childcare deserts", and experts are demanding more from both major political parties. Childcare is one of the few policy areas with genuine differences between the parties, giving voters a choice at the upcoming election.
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00:00Bethan Rees enrolled daughter Ada in daycare when she was four months pregnant.
00:07But it wasn't early enough to secure a place.
00:10She lived in Alice Springs, one of the country's childcare deserts.
00:14Not having enough days meant that I had to give up a job that I was really passionate about.
00:19Ada was nearly two when she finally got one day a week of care.
00:23But it wasn't worth the wait.
00:25The centre's overstretched conditions shocked her mum.
00:28Things like her sleep routine and her attachment were really affected during that time.
00:35The impact of kids like Ada missing out has now been quantified in a new report.
00:41The Mitchell Institute found disadvantaged kids can start to lag behind in educational outcomes from as young as two.
00:48By the time that children reach school, that trajectory's really set.
00:52When children start school behind, they stay behind.
00:55The report's authors say early intervention is the solution.
00:59But with one in four Australians living in childcare deserts, the most vulnerable are missing out.
01:05In some neighbourhoods, there can be up to 16 children competing for one childcare spot, which is just not good enough.
01:13Both sides of politics are trying to convince voters they have the answers.
01:17Labor says it'll fund three days a week of care for all kids, and it's got a billion dollar fund to build centres in childcare deserts.
01:25The Coalition is yet to release its policy, but says it'll provide a flexible alternative with local solutions in regional areas.
01:33Are you going to put it on for me?
01:35No doubt an issue front of mind for parents of kids like Ada.
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