Tas Council moves to Monday – Thursday model due to critical workforce shortages

Glenorchy City Council, in Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart will move to a Monday through Thursday model of care at its Benjafield and Berriedale childcare centres as critical workforce shortages in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector continue. 

Effective 2 September, initially until the 2022 Christmas closure period, the centres will only be open four days per week, losing Friday’s as an option for care. At least 70 local families will be affected by the changes, and have been notified by Council.

The Council’s General Manager, Tony McMullen said that while the Council understands and recognises the impact of the decision, it is no longer sustainable for the Council to continue to operate under its current 7.30am to 6pm, five-day-a-week model. 

“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,” 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.”