Increased regulations have forced the Warren Shire Council to cease vacation care services these holidays.  

The service - which is usually offered by the council during holiday periods for working parents - has remained in popular demand with families across the community, but new regulations since its beginning made its operations increasingly difficult.  

 According to the council, “when Vacation Care was originally offered as a service to the community, it was not a regulated childcare service”. 

 A 2020 audit of the service found that the council was failing to comply with increased regulations, and the appropriate staff to maintain those standards.  

 Despite attempting to comply, acquiring qualified staff meant that offering the service would be an impossibility.  

New legislation requires the Vacation Care to be run to the same standards as a privately run childcare service, and a coordinator with a minimum qualification of a Cert III in Childcare.  

 According to a report provided to the Warren Shire Council, there were no applicants for the position, citing the workforce shortage as a major factor. 

 “It is not a full time position. Those persons that are suitably qualified already have full time employment and are not willing to forgo their holidays for secondary employment,” the report read.  

Since the audit and notification of new requirements to meet, Vacation Care expenditure that needed to be subsidized by the council rose by $20,000.  

Despite the additional money required, the council noted that they were willing to fund the additional requirements, including 12 points of non-compliance that were identified in the audit.  

Unfortunately, the lack of Vacation Care Coordinator to fill the position has made all attempts redundant.  

While the ceased operation will significantly decrease the capacity for childcare services, the Warren Youth Support Group and Warren Shire Library also run holiday programs and events.  

It is unclear whether there will be an attempt to reintroduce the service in future years.