Waitlists at Moranbah childcare centres have halved, with 27 new childcare workers recruited through the efforts of the Childcare Leadership Alliance (CLA).

The CLA began two years ago, funded by BMA and initiated by Smart Transformation, after a review locally found a lack of staff was limiting childcare availability in the towns of Dysart and Moranbah.

Under a pilot project supported by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), the CLA has identified new workers for local centres to employ, with Moranbah waitlists going from 300 to under 150.

Smart Transformation Advisory Council member and CLA Board Chair Melissa Westcott said the project was making a huge difference to local families, as well as to the broader community.

“The outcomes are key – we weren’t expecting the outcomes of bringing this many childcare workers to town so quickly,” Melissa said.

“Our kids are our future – we shouldn’t be left behind because we live in regional Queensland because of access to childcare.

“It’s (the CLA) provided the ability for our business to become more sustainable because we have a consistent workforce. It’s a very volatile industry but now we have the workers we need to run our businesses.”

CLA’s Mel Comerford said childcare benefits everyone in the community, regardless of whether they had children or not.

“If the people who provide a service to you need childcare, then they’ll be able to do their jobs if childcare is available to them,” she said.

“Doctors, dentists, people at the bottle shop, people in the mines – you’re likely to meet someone who needs childcare. And if they can’t access childcare, then the service they provide to you is disrupted.”

The CLA is now looking to local businesses and industry to support its future plans of bringing even more childcare workers to the communities.

“We’re asking for industry to contribute, to step up and work together to provide a sustainable long term childcare solution for Moranbah and Dysart,” Melissa said.

“The support we’ve had from BMA has been fantastic, but it’s time for other companies to help fund the relocation and accommodation costs of additional staff, to keep our childcare centres moving forward and ensure our kids are given every opportunity.”