Playgroup and a plan for 20 extra spots: How SWR preschool is filling childcare gaps

South West Rocks Preschool currently has about 100 names on its waitlist, including newborns. 

In the town of about 5,500 residents, the preschool is doing its best to provide more options for young families in the community desperate for childcare. 

In October 2025, it launched Arakoon Kids, with the intention of operating the supported playgroup for children aged nought to five on one day a week. After the first turnout, it went straight to two days. 

• “We’ve had an incredible response, the first day was ridiculous … it was shoulder to shoulder almost,” South West Rocks Preschool Director Cally Pratt told The Mid North Coaster. “Which shows you the huge need for it.”

But even more needs to be done, which is why the not-for-profit has a plan that could create an extra 20 spaces a day.

What happened: When South West Rocks Scouts didn’t have enough interest to keep running, the hall was left empty – a perfect venue for a playgroup.

NSW Scouts agreed and after due process, and a successful government grant application, South West Rocks Preschool took over the hall, where it now runs Arakoon Kids supported playgroup. This means it’s run by qualified early childhood professionals and families stay with the children during the sessions.

The service not only provides a space for kids to play and families to chat, but a chance for parents and guardians to connect with local services like Mission Australia and Nurturing Connections. 

• “It’s just as much for the parents as it is for the children,” Pratt said. 

While everyone is welcome, the playgroup is targeted to those unable to access childcare service and with barriers like financial difficulties, children with disabilities and homeless families.

Morning tea is provided, along with nappies and wipes.

• “We wanted to make it really easy, particularly for vulnerable families that are a bit isolated and have some barriers,” Pratt said. “People can just show up and everything that they need is here.”

More still needed: While the preschool - which is one block from the Scout hall - operates five days a week, children are limited to two days per week to ensure more families have access. 

Restricting playgroup and preschool kids to two days a week isn’t necessarily helping people return to work. 

• “People need to work and they need childcare to work,” Pratt said. “There’s just not enough [places].”

 The Parenthood’s Maddy Butler told The Mid North Coaster: “Early learning shortages are affecting regional, rural and remote parts of Australia, particularly in the Mid North Coast.”

2024 research from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute found about 24 percent of Australia’s population live in childcare deserts – where there are more than three children per childcare place. The study showed across the Mid North Coast there were simply not enough places for each child.

An extra 20 spots: The preschool is now working towards renovating the old Scout hall currently used for the playgroup, and turning it into an extra room for the preschool.

Once completed, it would provide additional childcare services four days a week, meaning the playgroup would be cut from two days a week to one. 

Pratt expects this extra service to provide 20 additional childcare places on each of the four days.

The preschool will submit a development application for the proposed renovations in the near future.

Healthcare in strife: Butler said the “severe shortages” across the region don’t just impact children and families.

• “This leaves local health services in strife when nurses, midwives and doctors in the region can't access care for their children, and therefore, they can't get to work,” Butler said.

• “What we need is care for our children so that we can support the workforce as best as possible,” Butler said.

An unattractive job:  Lack of childcare access comes down to a lack of childcare facilities and difficulty attracting people to the industry.

According to Seek, there are 26 early childcare teacher roles currently open across the Mid North Coast.

“The pay is not good,” Pratt said. “It can be quite a stressful job … and the compensation does not match the responsibilities.”

Despite this, South West Rocks Preschool currently has 12 staff.

Those looking to join Arakoon Kids playgroup are asked to book in via the Arakoon Kids Facebook page. There is no waitlist for the sessions, which are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am - 11.30am, for children aged nought to five.