A HUNTER mum has made a plea to the community to prevent her daughter's childcare centre from closing.
Beresfield's Joanna Atkinson, 40, started an online petition after Samartians Anglican Early Learning Centre announced it would be closing its Woodberry and Newcastle doors at the end of the year.
"My daughter attends the Woodberry centre and has been there nearly two years. We were notified about the closure and advised the next nearest place we can send them to is Fletcher," she said.
"I work at Maitland so it's not ideal."
Samaritans told the Newcastle Herald it made the difficult decision to cease operation of its two Hunter early learning centres to direct resources.
"The decision was made in order to direct resources to the core Samaritans services of welfare and emergency relief. Samaritans have been providing this vital support to the community since 1984," a spokesperson said.
Ms Atkinson has already enquired at two other child care centres for her daughter in Beresfield but has had no luck.
"I thought February would be the intake but they've already said they have no vacancies. The other centre said I could come for a walk-through but they haven't told me if there's any availability yet," she said.
Her concern lies with the chance there's not going to be a place for surrounding families to take their children for care.
"Lots of parents have sent multiple children through the centre, using it as a feeder school to the local public and high schools," she said.
"It's hard enough for some families to get from Beresfield to Woodberry, let alone Fletcher."
"It will be a complete loss if it closes. It's well known to the community."
Ms Atkinson said she was worried about the impact of ripping her daughter from a centre where she has built strong connections.
"Personally that's what I'm most worried about. She loves the teachers and the directors are awesome. It upsets me knowing that she's going to lose those relationships and reform them," she said.
The petition currently has 224 signatures and Ms Atkinson hopeful the community will show their support and back her appeal.
Samaritans has commenced discussions with City of Newcastle and Maitland City Council in regards to supporting any potential transition of the service to alternate operators.
"Samaritans will continue to provide consistent care at the two centres up until the date of closure," a spokesperson said.
A Maitland City Council spokesperson said council continues to work with Samaritans in any potential transition of the centre to alternate operators.
City of Newcastle said they were disappointed that Samaritans intends to close its Early Learning Centre on Darby Street, which has been leased by Anglicare since 2014.
"City of Newcastle has not yet been formally notified by Anglicare, the head lessee, but has reached out to them after being made aware of the situation," a spokesperson said.
"It is understood there may be other childcare operators interested in the site, however nothing is confirmed at this point in time," they said.
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchinson said concerned community members had reached out to her following the closure announcement.
"I met with community members and centre management over the weekend [August 3] and continue to be in discussions with the community," she said.
"I have reached out to both my federal colleagues Meryl Swanson and to Deputy Premier Prue Car about the issue of early childhood availability in the Woodberry area."
Despite the disappointing Samaritans closure, Ms Aitchinson said the state government is committed to investing in early childhood education with two new centres pegged for the Hunter in 2027.
"We have made a historic investment to build 100 new public preschools, two of these are in the Maitland electorate at Gillieston Public School and Tenambit Public, which is a great result for those communities," she said.
