Finding a carer for your children is becoming increasingly difficult, reports MICHAEL LOWE. DEMAND outstrips supply for family day care places in the North.

But despite the problems, the North is probably doing better than many areas of Australia, where the shortages are chronic.

Pam Johns is the Launceston Family Day Care coordinator, and she said parents valued the flexibility of the service based in South Launceston.

Family day carers offer care for children from their home and can offer day or night or overnight care, or other options.

But the problem is a lack of qualified staff.

"Our demand for care outstrips what we can place and that is a Statewide issue," she said.

"But it's really a great form of child-care, mainly because of the small group size and siblings can remain together."

She said care could be offered from birth to 13 years and strict licence conditions applied.

Both the State and Federal Governments were involved with licensing and subsidies.

She said the service could grow with additional staff, with work for several more five qualified staff.

"We had a new one (carer) start at Legana and she was full before she started," Mrs Johns said.

"It's not good for parents because they do not get a choice of carer.

"Our aim is to get a really good match with the children and the families.

"We could have another 100 carers across the State."

The service has 41 carers and Mrs Johns said at least another five carers were needed.