Rural families excluded from federal childcare fund, advocates say

Forum attendees in western Queensland say the Building Early Education Fund's guidelines shut out community-run and council-run centres

By LineZotpaper

Published6 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Families in rural Australian communities are being locked out of the federal government's Building Early Education Fund (BEEF), according to childcare advocates and residents who gathered at forums in Longreach and Blackall. They say the fund's eligibility criteria exclude council-run and local not-for-profit centres that are the backbone of early childhood education in remote areas.

The Albanese government launched the Building Early Education Fund (BEEF) last July as part of its 2025 election commitment to expand early childhood services. But advocates across regional Queensland say the fund has not reached the communities that need it most.

Angela Cochrane of The Future Care Project organised forums in Longreach and Blackall to hear from rural families. She said attendees felt ignored by the government.

"They just realised there wasn't any opportunity coming … no-one was asking them what was happening in their communities," Cochrane said.

She described a video message sent by federal Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh as missing the mark.

"The first thing that [the minister] said in response to us coming together was, 'The fund is there', and [yet] no-one's eligible for it," Cochrane said.

According to Cochrane, the fund's guidelines make council-run centres — a common model in rural towns — ineligible for funding. She said even a community-led not-for-profit centre in Goondiwindi had been knocked back.

"Everyone at every level has been excluded from this funding," she said. "It's nonsensical."

Minister Walsh said in a statement that eligibility was designed to support "high-quality, not-for-profit centres in areas of unmet need."

"We'll continue to listen to councils, providers and local communities as the fund is rolled out," she said.

Tayla Jackson lives in Aramac, a western Queensland town with no childcare centre. A primary school teacher, she relies on informal care one day a week.

"Currently, our situation is that we have a lovely lady who's looking after [our son] Ryan one day a week," she said.

Jackson said needing to care for Ryan limited her ability to work full time, causing financial strain for her family.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Rural families, already facing acute shortages of childcare, are being denied access to a fund specifically designed to address unmet need.
The exclusion could deepen the divide between urban and regional Australia, with knock-on effects on workforce participation and local economies.
The issue raises questions about consultation: communities say they were not consulted, while the minister says the government will continue to listen.

Background

Australia has many areas known as "childcare deserts" where formal early education services are scarce or nonexistent. In remote and rural areas, council-run centres and small not-for-profits are often the only options. The Building Early Education Fund (BEEF) was a centrepiece of the Albanese government's 2025 election campaign, aimed at expanding capacity. However, detailed eligibility rules have now come under scrutiny from regional advocates who say the program is failing its intended beneficiaries.

Key Perspectives

Rural families and advocates (e.g., The Future Care Project): The fund's guidelines exclude council-run and some not-for-profit centres, making it inaccessible to communities that rely on those models. They say they were not consulted and feel locked out.

Federal government (Minister Jess Walsh): The fund is designed to support high-quality, not-for-profit centres in areas of unmet need. The government says it will continue to listen to councils, providers and communities as the fund is rolled out.

Critics/Skeptics: Without changes to eligibility criteria, the fund may fail to deliver on its promise in rural areas. Ongoing consultation does not guarantee immediate fixes for families already struggling.

What to Watch

Whether the federal government revises BEEF eligibility criteria to include council-run and smaller not-for-profit centres.
Upcoming federal budget or ministerial announcements that could signal changes to the fund.
Further forums or reports from regional Queensland that may amplify the call for broader access.

Sources

Rural communities feel locked out of national childcare fund — Just In