The Blackall Forum drew 73 registered participants, 44 in person and 29 online, with around 80 people in the room and online across the two days: service providers, educators, parents and carers, principals, health services, training organisations, community organisations and elected representatives from local, state and federal government.
The forum released the interim results of the Regional Childcare Needs Survey publicly for the first time, tabled the ten priority barriers including the two additions endorsed by the Alliance in July, brought four members of parliament into the conversation in person and online, and converted two days of discussion into a commitment. Within eight days of the forum’s close, the Senate has announced the establishment of an inquiry into regional, rural and remote access to childcare (12 August 2026), giving the region’s the opportunity to turn this evidence base into national currency.
For more on RAPAD’s ECEC projects, please visit: www.rapad.com.au/projects/early-childhood-education-and-care
