For families in the Dandenong Ranges, and much of the eastern suburbs, finding a childcare spot nearby isn’t just difficult — it can feel impossible.

In the Dandenong Ranges, some residents must drive 20 kilometres or more to their nearest long day care, often having to be selected out of 50 or more children competing for a single space. These services cater to children up to six years of age and usually operate ten to 12 hours each day, five days a week.

The east’s childcare deserts

Last year, Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute released a study highlighting availability of childcare based on location, pointing towards so-called “childcare deserts” across the country as areas where three or more children are competing for one available spot.

The Basin, Sassafras and Ferny Creek had some of the worst childcare availability in the state.

President and founder of Mums of the Hills, Dr Belinda Young, has been campaigning for better childcare services and accessibility for years. She said the area was among the worst in the state for finding a space in a childcare centre.

“For every one childcare space available, there was between 14 and 15 children trying to get that space,” she told the Eastern Melburnian. “For example, for Sassafras, there are 50-plus children needing long daycare for every one childcare space available.”

“Childcare plays a major factor in ensuring our mums are feeling less isolated and receive opportunities to support their families.”

Dr Young said what might seem to be the obvious fix — building daycare centres where there is the most need — is not always the easiest or most helpful solution, as it would require more staff and an assuredness that there would continue to be enough children to fill the spaces long-term. The benefit of having a daycare centre can also be outweighed by the long commute required to get there and then get to one’s workplace in the city.

She said there needed to be a move towards better supporting parents in the workplace and to encourage them to take time to be with their children more often.

Who can fix Australia’s childcare crisis?

Last August, the Productivity Commission released its inquiry report into the childcare sector, calling for the Federal Government to allow for children to be able to access high-quality childcare services for 30 hours or three days per week.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to establish a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund if Labor is re-elected in the upcoming federal election, which would deliver grants to providers and allow them to explore options to invest in owning and leasing out services.

Casey MP Aaron Violi said he had heard these concerns echoed by local mums across the eastern suburbs. “Parents are having to put themselves on waitlists at their 12-week scans or even earlier,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.

“I will continue calling on the government to increase childcare supply to bring down costs for local families.”

Across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, prominent Independent candidates like Casey candidate Claire Ferres Miles and Deakin candidate Jess Ness are also running on pledges to improve the childcare system.

Claire Ferres Miles said a number of Casey voters are concerned about the lack of availability of childcare spaces.

“Access to childcare in the Casey electorate has been assessed as the worst in Victoria, with 72 per cent of the electorate a childcare desert,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

“Access to high quality childcare services is the largest barrier and the key that unlocks opportunities for women to work - both returning to work and the opportunity to increase hours worked.

“A wage increase for early childhood education and care workers announced in 2024 was a good start, but more needs to be done to increase the number of quality childcare places across the Casey electorate.”

Ferres said she has been heavily involved with local childcare advocacy in the Hills, including in securing funding for a new Children’s Hub at the Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre in Upwey.

“I have experienced and know the positive impact of quality childcare that has enabled me to be both a parent and have a career,” she said.

Deakin Independent candidate Jess Ness said she had experienced hardship in accessing childcare for her three children over the years.

“When we did the sums, returning to work part-time would have cost us money after childcare fees,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

“With a second child, those costs doubled, making it more practical to wait until one started school.

“Even then, the challenges didn’t stop — childcare availability rarely matched my work schedule, after-school care added another expense, and like many families, we faced long delays in receiving rebates.”

Ness said she had also heard reports of long waitlists, with parents having to wait for months or even years for a spot for their children between zero and three; limited flexibility of the available days; and bureaucratic barriers, with parents required to navigate a complex system.

“Child care isn’t just a family issue—it’s an economic and social one,” she said.

As for Mums of the Hills, Dr Young said she was keen to hear from all politicians about their plans for supporting childcare needs in the area.

“It’s an ongoing struggle,” she said.

“There have been gains in some areas, but really the availability has not increased substantially for a very long time.”