00:00This trip to her local childcare centre is a routine for Lauren Varson and her two year
00:08old son Lumi. But last week they learned the St Patrick's childcare centre in La Trobe
00:14will close for good on Christmas Eve.
00:16I instantly just felt sick to my stomach. I was so anxious. I know a lot of my friends
00:22at the centre as well just were in tears.
00:25Having access to childcare allows Lauren and her husband Luke to run their business.
00:30We all just went into panic together and we had been calling around trying to get into places
00:36but there's one to two year waits minimum to get into anywhere.
00:41The first I heard of it was when a family actually called to be put on the wait list. It was a bit shocking.
00:47At a nearby centre in Shearwater, Director Bec Hodgett knows the pressure childcare providers are under all too well.
00:54I've just had two ladies come in here this morning expecting babies to go on the wait list for their children to come in 2027.
01:01A new 119 place centre is planned to open in La Trobe next year but it won't be ready until at least July.
01:08La Trobe Mayor Peter Freshney sits on the St Patrick's advisory board but wasn't involved in discussions surrounding the closure.
01:15He says the council is working through options including finding a new location.
01:19There's such an impact across so many areas in our community. It is crucial, absolutely crucial that we make every effort possible to find a solution.
01:29In a statement Catholic Education Tasmania says the centre will be repurposed into additional learning areas for students at the adjoining Catholic school.
01:37It says it made the announcement now so that staff and families have until the end of the year to prepare.
01:43We're all hard working families. The educators down there are incredible and I think we all deserve better.
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