What is The Future Care Project?
The challenge of finding childcare is something many families know too well - long waitlists, limited choices, and missed opportunities. But within that challenge lies an incredible opportunity for change.
The Future Care Project was founded on the belief that regional communities can lead the way in building brighter futures. We know that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work - regional towns need care solutions that are fit for purpose and built around their unique needs. This is not just about filling a childcare gap. It’s about creating new pathways that empower aspiring educators to step into early learning, and supporting them to thrive as small business owners delivering quality, home-based care where services are scarce.
Across our towns, there are passionate people ready to answer the call. With the right training, qualifications, and mentoring, these locals can establish flexible, sustainable services that meet families’ needs while building livelihoods with purpose.
We also walk alongside local community- run not-for-profit providers, helping them unlock grants, strengthen governance, and streamline HR and compliance. This empowers them to keep their focus where it matters most - delivering high-quality care to families - while staying competitive against larger for-profit operators.
The Future Care Project exists to connect the dots - bringing families, educators, and advocates together so no one has to start from scratch. By sharing solutions and amplifying what works, we can lift each other up and create a movement that transforms not just one town, but all of regional Australia.
Every family, no matter their postcode, should have ready access to quality, inclusive, and sustainable childcare.
It’s not a luxury. It’s a right.
To achieve this vision, the Future Care Project is working to:
Strengthen existing care models - including in-home care, in-venue family day care, and other innovative microbusiness care models - to improve long-term viability and expand flexible options. These approaches ensure families with non-traditional working hours, those living in geographically isolated areas, or those with complex needs can finally access the care they deserve.
Provide a central platform to share real stories from other successful communities highlighting how they addressed childcare challenges through a mix of grants, social enterprise, charity donations, and government partnerships - to inspire and inform others ready to take action.
Making connections simple and accessible - linking families with dedicated educators who can provide the support they need.
Build local training and employment pathways into the early childhood education and care sector, starting at the secondary school level all the way through to mature age jobseekers and extending support to access vocational training and career guidance.
Support not-for-profit and community-run centres with tailored operational, business, and workforce assistance to improve sustainability and reduce staff burnout.
Partner with local councils, chambers of commerce, and major employers to co-design and co-invest in care solutions that reflect the unique needs of their region.
Advocate for national and state-level policy change, including formal recognition of the regional childcare crisis and the introduction of flexible, fit-for-purpose funding models for rural and remote communities.
Promote care as critical economic infrastructure, and push for tax and policy reforms that better support working families, especially women.
Embed culturally safe, community-led care models, ensuring representation and leadership from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Support children with diverse high-needs backgrounds, and help ECEC providers access the tools, partnerships, personal development courses and funding they need to deliver inclusive, specialised care.
Develop a scalable and replicable framework that can guide other regional communities in addressing similar childcare challenges.