ALPINE Shire is not a 'childcare desert’, but it could certainly do with more childcare places.

The Mitchell Institute recently released a report which highlighted the significant lack of accessible childcare places available when compared to the local population.

According to the report, there are 0.449 places per child in childcare facilities in Myrtleford and 0.679 places per child in Bright/Mt Beauty.

Residents across the North East are not faring much better, with the report revealing: Wangaratta has 0.595 places in childcare facilities per child, with only 0.194 places per child in the Wangaratta surrounds, Beechworth has 0.507 childcare places per child, the Indigo Valley has 0.476 places per child, Yackandandah has 0.488 places per child, Towong has 0.591 places per child, Mansfield has 0.585 places per child, Benalla has 0.97 places per child and Benalla surrounds has zero places per child.

According to childcare directory ‘Care For Kids’, Myrtleford has 90 childcare places and currently has vacancies; Bright has 155 places but no current vacancies; and Tawonga has 50 places and has vacancies - with the cost per child being between $117 tp $134 per day.

Indi federal Independent MP Helen Haines said accessing childcare is critical to families being able to pay their bills and put food on the table.

“Childcare shortages are at crisis levels, and this is having a massive impact on our local families,” she said.

“This data confirms just how dire the situation is for families across Indi.

“We know that in some areas, there is literally zero childcare available and in others, at best, there is double the demand for the places available.

“Families continue to face an impossible situation that is putting them under enormous stress, and it needs urgent government intervention."

Dr Haines last month met with Minister for Early Childhood Education and spoke directly about the childcare issues facing families in Indi.

She also recently brought advocacy group, The Parenthood, to Indi to give parents the chance to have direct input into the report it is launching this month to help influence change at the national level.

“These parents told The Parenthood about their struggle to access and pay for care and the impact it is having on their hip pocket and their stress levels," Dr Haines said.