Shifting rosters in some professions make the job of finding last minute childcare a lottery for many Great Lakes parents.

Forster nurse Lisa Perry has two daughters, aged six and seven.

“Because I’m a single mum I have to pay for a sitter every time I’m on night duty,” she said. “Even though I work 32 hours a week I’m classed as a casual, and all the childcare centre places get filled up by the time I know my shifts.”

Louise Collins is Great Lakes Children’s Centre coordinator.

She said before and after school vacancies are filled by whoever requests them first, and can’t be held in reserve.

“I completely agree; the disadvantaged workers are the casuals and workers on call. I’ve been a casual teacher myself and you might not get a call to come in until early that morning,” she said.

“But if I have a vacancy and a working parent rings, then I have to give it to them. There are standards we have to follow to keep our government funding.”

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently announced plans for universal parent and child care centres nationwide.

The idea was discussed at the weekend’s 2020 summit in Canberra, but the proposed centres would not accommodate children older than five.

Great Lakes Council community development coordinator Amanda Ellis said this would not address the problem faced by Ms Perry and other parents of school aged children.

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“It’s easier for parents to book day care for preschool kids because they know it’s a long term situation. Parents rarely book casually for preschool kids,” she said.

“But when it comes to last minute arrangements for kids who are normally at school, it’s a lot easier to accommodate parents who know exactly when they’re working.

“It’s not really about there not being enough centres, it’s more a case of casual workers being disadvantaged by the current system.