‘A waiting game’: Labor says working parents fed-up with Tasmanian childcare shortages

The number of kids on the waitlist for childcare is too high, Labor says, and it’s something the party says is in desperate need of change. Here’s how many are ‘typically’ on a waitlist.

From left, Labor education spokesman Josh Willie, Geeveston mum Gabby Noye and her son Brock, and Labor candidate for Franklin Toby Thorpe. Picture: Supplied

The Tasmanian Labor party has promised to prioritise childcare for working families if elected, saying parents across the state had become desperate due to massive shortages.

On Sunday, Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said The Cottage childcare centre at Huonville was typical of similar facilities across Tasmania – with a current waitlist of 237.

“There are too many families on the waitlist for childcare services,” he said.

“The Labor party is very serious about helping working families if we are to form government, and we think that the state government hasn’t done enough in the childcare space.”

Mr Willie said the huge shortages in childcare places were putting pressure on parents looking to work or study, while navigating the cost-of-living crisis.

Geeveston mother Gabby Noye said she was struggling to find childcare for her two-year-old son, Brock.

She said she was forced to quit a course of study, to help her find job opportunities, because the cost of the childcare centre Brock was attending was too high.

Ms Noye has now joined a list of 30 other centres across Tasmania with the hopes of finding something more affordable – but until then, her life is on hold.

“Everything’s a waiting game,” she said.

Franklin Labor candidate Toby Thorpe said Ms Noye’s story was not unique.

“There are parents across this region that want to work, they want to be upskilled to work in areas across the community, but they’re unable to find a place for childcare,” he said.

“They’re on waitlists for centres that are incredible distances away from their workplaces.”

Education Minister Roger Jaensch said the state government was providing extra funding for early learning, announcing over the weekend the next phase of the Working Together program.

He said the program would make up to 220 places available across 43 early child education services across the state.

Mr Jaensch said it was already delivering services with 19 providers across Tasmania, helping 120 three-year-olds each year to access funded education and care in the year before kindergarten.

Follow @ambervwilson

Originally published as ‘A waiting game’: Labor says working parents fed-up with Tasmanian childcare shortages