Childcare fees in Australia: see how much costs have risen in your area

The map shows the areas with the largest rises in childcare costs are mostly ex-urban and regional – with the largest fee increases in regional Queensland, the NT and NSW. Illustration: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design

Early childhood education and care is in a state of crisis in Australia, crippled by workforce shortages, patchy availability and rising fees.

Government subsidies increased earlier this year, but families’ fees have also increased, in many cases offsetting most or all of the benefit. The cost burden overall is being felt more by households that were already facing disadvantage.