A lack of access to before and after school care places across Tasmania is having a negative impact economically, socially and on people's health and wellbeing.
Tasmania had the lowest availability of childcare in the country last year, at just one place for every three children. 57 per cent of Tasmania's small areas were classified as 'childcare deserts' in 2024. Tasmania also has the weakest workforce participation rate in the nation.
One Tasmanian whose life has been negatively impacted by a lack of childcare is General Practitioner Samantha. The struggle to find after school care for Samantha's son at Howrah Primary School meant she had to reduce her patient load, placing further stress on Tasmania's health system.
The lack of available care became such a challenge for Sam, that it contributed to her decision move from Hobart's Eastern Shore when she didn't really want to.
Labor has been advocating for more before and after school at Howrah Primary which resulted in an increase of places last year. I'm immensely proud of this outcome, but data from Clarence City Council shows that there are still 20 to 30 families on the waitlist for some days, with many more missing out.
Unfortunately, this situation isn't unique across the state
Labor is calling on the Tasmanian Liberal Government to work more closely with providers to understand what they need to do to open up more places.
The Government made promises at the past election, but many Tasmanians are yet to see any tangible outcomes. Their commitments seem restricted to new sites, which leaves nothing for schools like Howrah Primary, which has waitlists bursting at the seams.
We are also calling on the state government to develop a comprehensive plan to best capitalise on the Federal Government's recent election commitment of a $1 billion fund to build more child care centres.
Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Finance
Member for Pembroke
Howrah Primary School after school care waitlist data (as at March 2025)
