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by Julie Ryan
The long-awaited approval of a new Out of School Hours( OOSH) facility in North Richmond marks an important step forward for local families- but it also highlights a much broader and ongoing challenge: the urgent need for more childcare options across the Hawkesbury.
Hawkesbury City Council’ s decision to partner with the NSW Department of Education will see a new 60-place OOSH service built at Richmond North Public School, replacing earlier plans to expand the existing 45-place facility at Chas Perry Hall. While this is a welcome development, demand for before- and after-school care in the area has long outstripped supply, leaving many families struggling to secure reliable care close to home.
For years, parents in North Richmond and surrounding suburbs have faced limited access to childcare, often relying on long waiting lists or travelling outside the area to find available placements. This has placed added pressure on working families trying to balance employment commitments with school schedules particularly those without flexible work arrangements or extended family support. The newly approved facility, to be located just 500 metres from the current service, will provide some much-needed
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relief. Its position within Richmond North Public School allows for shared resources and a more practical, purpose-built environment for children. However, with population growth continuing across the Hawkesbury, particularly in developing areas, a single 60-place service is unlikely to fully meet current or future demand.
Childcare is no longer just a convenience it is an essential service that underpins workforce participation, family wellbeing and early childhood development. Without adequate access, families are often forced into difficult decisions around reduced work hours or alternative, less suitable care arrangements.
Community feedback has consistently pointed to the need for more investment in childcare infrastructure, not just in North Richmond but across the wider region. As housing developments expand and more young families move into the area, planning for additional
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OOSH services, long day care centres and early learning facilities will be critical.
The allocation of $ 1 million from Redbank Voluntary Planning Agreement will be used and the funds will be released to the NSW Department of Education which will enter into an agreement with Council to deliver the OOSH facility for the North Richmond community, with further consultation expected to identify remaining gaps and opportunities for additional funding. It is this next stage
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listening to community needs and planning proactively- that will determine whether the region can keep pace with demand.
While the new OOSH facility is a positive outcome, it should be seen as part of a bigger picture. For North Richmond families, it represents progress but also a clear reminder that more must be done to ensure every child has access to safe, accessible and high-quality care close to home.
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