Previously, the Coffs Harbour region was on the NSW Department of Education's list of communities to engage for any significant legislative, regulatory and policy improvements and changes.

But the 2019 Review of the National Quality Framework has compelled 57 early learning services for up to 2,654 children and their families to travel to Lismore and/or Port Macquarie instead to engage and have their say in their respective futures.

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This while during a time of childcare oversupply, confusion/frustrations over the new National Quality Standards since February 2018 and in particular the consequential impact on services' ratings, challenges to childcare affordability, significant labour shortages, and the Federal Government's still problematic Child Care Subsidy System.

Coffs Harbour is a major regional centre of New South Wales, and together with Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Illawarra form 93% of the entire state's population.

Moreover, as predominantly small family-owned businesses, organisations and communities providing a critical service, for the NSW Government to overlook this region undermines the value of such service providers and community members.

The Coffs Harbour region of early childhood education and care services and children ask the NSW Government and in particular the NSW Minister for Early Childhood Education (the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC) to add a 2019 NQF Review Evening Consultation as well as a 2019 Day Time Roadshow session similar to those already scheduled for Greater Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Lismore, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Gosford and Maitland. (CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE ON-LINE PETITION)