Hobart’s Glenorchy City Council will reduce operating hours at its Benjafield and Berriedale childcare centres citing nationwide shortages in the education and care sector.
Both centres will move to a Monday to Thursday operating model and will be closed Fridays effective Friday 2 September and each Friday thereafter until the 2022 Christmas closure period.
At least 70 local families will be affected by the changes, and have been notified by Council.
Council’s General Manager, Tony McMullen, said Council understood and recognised how difficult this decision would be for many families in the community.
“Unfortunately, ongoing, and critical nation-wide workforce shortages, compounded by ongoing COVID-19 impacts, have impacted the sustainability of our Child Care Connections education care services under its current 7.30am to 6pm five-day-a-week model,” Mr McCullen said.
“Families have had to adapt to unexpected closures due to simply not having the staff available to provide a service in the event of illness and this has placed all staff under additional pressure.
“This was not a situation anyone wanted to see, with the current situation simply not sustainable.”
