The crisis is sucking the life out of regional cities

Psychologist Tegan Podubinski knows her region needs more mental health care, but first she and other essential workers must solve the child care crisis.

For psychologist and mother of two Tegan Podubinski, a lack of access to childcare will mean her community will receive 20 fewer weeks of mental health care this year.

“We have a very limited mental health workforce,” said Dr. Podubinski.

She is an example of the one in three Australians who live in a childcare desert, where there is one childcare place for every three or more children, according to data from the University of Victoria’s Mitchell Institute.

In Wangaratta and surrounding north-eastern Victoria, more than nine out of 10 people live in childcare deserts, meaning fewer doctors, nurses and teachers can provide full-time services in regions already struggling with workforce shortages.

“Every time you look at the Facebook notifications page, you see someone desperate for childcare and wondering how on earth they are going to get to work,” she said.

Dr. Podubinski sometimes takes her children to her research work, and she has also been able to get Henry involved in a play group at a rural school where she provides her treatment.

Despite the support, she had to turn down a position as a supervisor of rural psychologists in training because of her limited childcare days, a missed opportunity to expand the local mental health workforce.

“These students likely would have stayed in a rural area,” Dr. Podubinski said.