A REPORT released from Victoria University earlier this year has ranked an SA regional electorate as one of the country's worst performers for childcare accessibility, with early childhood educators calling for change heading into the federal election.
The seat of Grey ranked number one for poor access to childcare, while also ranked number 12 for children facing developmental vulnerabilities when starting school.
The analysis found electorates with high rates of vulnerability were more likely to have limited availability of childcare spaces.
About 90 per cent of the population in Grey lives in a "childcare desert", where three or more children were vying for every childcare space.
The analysis showed trends towards lower availability of childcare in the electorates coincided with the highest rates of child development vulnerability, with evidence showing children who start school behind stay behind.
Kadina Child Care Centre director Caren Hammerstein said demand for childcare spots on the Yorke Peninsula was more than double what was available.
"We are a 53-place centre and we currently have 54 families on our wait list," she said.
"That's just us, I'm sure other childcare centres across the region face the same struggle.
"It's something that has grown over the past five or six years."
Ms Hammerstein said childcare was not only a necessity for parents returning to work, but a key pillar in child development.
"We support children having the best possible start to life and childcare is an extension of the home environment," she said.
"It offers them a lot of diversity and gives them plenty of opportunities to play, engage, form friendships, and practice basic skills.
"All of these things that are facilitated at home and parents really strive to do that, but childcare can enhance that."
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To combat this, the centre has looked to expand its services, but cannot do so without adequate funding.
"As a centre we are trying to add options because we know there is a high demand," KCCC committee chair Leanne Allen said.
"We are trying to be quite proactive and look at ideas and ways in which we expand.
"It'd be great if there was more government grants or funding so we could pay for the ideas we have."
Ms Allen said access to childcare was a basic need for families living in the regions.
"We want to make the region attractive and childcare is one of the main things families look for when moving," she said.
"It's the same with other services - one thing we're lacking here, like every other regional area, is health services.
"Childcare falls into that category too - we've heard of stories where people have relocated and wanted to start work, but haven't because they can't access childcare - we need to find a way through this."