For Ludwika Sawicka-Robak her local playgroup was a refuge. She had started attending shortly after moving to Sydney's north shore from Poland with her toddler son, Franek.

Making friends in her local area wasn't easy, until she started meeting other parents in a similar situation to her own at Mosman Melrose Playgroup.

"The playgroup was essential for me to settle in Mosman with my son," she says.

"I found a place where I could meet the same faces every week and have a cup of tea with the same people.

"They became my friends — people with the same problems with moving to Australia."

Thirty local families used to meet there fairly regularly — until the playgroup found itself homeless.

After 30 years in the same location, a new church, Harbourside, moved in and asked the playgroup to move out in order to make renovations to a leaky roof and fix a mould problem.

The playgroup leaders have failed to find a new venue and are now meeting at a local park.

Ludwika Sawicka Robak (second from right) says she became friends with people with the same issues as her. ( Supplied: Gwen Griffith )

"We don't have facilities like a bathroom or a kitchen, we don't have shade from the sun or any of our toys," says Ms Sawicka-Robak, one of the day leaders.

"We get requests to join all the time, but the carers don't come because they're looking for something more constructive."

Another member says the playgroup's closure has destroyed a piece of social infrastructure.

"To me, as a grandmother, this playgroup was so important," says Kathy Prohovnik, 61, who's been bringing along her granddaughter Cheska.

"You go crazy with a kid alone all day. The playgroup was very welcoming, very inclusive," she says.

Kathy Prohovnik, with her granddaughter Cheska, says she is disappointed at the playgroup's closure. ( Supplied: Gwen Griffith )

More playgroups are closing down

Mosman Melrose is not the only playgroup in New South Wales to have recently found itself homeless.

Last year, at least 12 playgroups across the state became financially insecure and required rent support from not-for-profit organisation Playgroup NSW; of these, four were forced to close due to lack of a suitable venue.

And a number of councils have stopped allowing playgroups to access their facilities, prompting Playgroup NSW to contact Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton to ask her to intervene.

"It's becoming more and more prevalent," says Karen Van Woudenberg from Playgroup NSW.

"There are a number of reasons. A common issue is not enough volunteers, another is that playgroups can't maintain costs, or the venue is closing as it's being reconfigured for general purposes, making it unsuitable for young children."

Hamilton Community South Playgroup was recently forced to vacate its venue. ( Supplied )

Playgroup NSW has 800 playgroups that bring together more than 20,000 children.

The organisation says the opportunity for parents and carers to meet regularly helps to build communities, and that creative and unstructured play opportunities are essential to child development.

When playgroups close, it says vulnerable communities are affected and the social isolation of mums and carers becomes exacerbated.

"In Australia, relocation happens all the time. It's a very common story," Ms Van Woudenberg says.

"Playgroups offer affordable activities for those who may not be able to afford other programs."

Playgroup NSW say the lack of venues is more of a problem in dense urban areas where there are lots more families, but fewer available venues.

Even though Playgroup NSW has tried to diversify and is offering playgroups in new venues like aged-care facilities and even at a city farm, the demand is still greater than what's currently provided.

'We were told we would have to pack our stuff away'

Hamilton South Community Playgroup in Newcastle was also at risk of losing its home.

It had been running for decades at the edge of a council estate at Henry Park Hall.

At the moment five playgroups use the hall over four days, with 50 local families involved on a regular basis.

Lauren Needham handles all the enquiries to join the playgroup.

"Probably 90 per cent start out with, 'I'm new to the area'. Most of them are moving up from Sydney for their husband's jobs," she says.

Kids play in the sandpit at Hamilton South Community Playgroup. ( Supplied )

Last year, Newcastle City Council contacted the leaders to inform them of a plan to upgrade the facility and change it into a multi-use hall.

"We were told we would have to pack our stuff away and that our sandpit would have to be removed," Ms Needham says.

"At first they told us it was because of a risk of people hiding needles in there, then we found out the real issue is that it's made out of treated pine."

The leaders were also told the fully enclosed fence would have to be removed and that there would be a rent increase.

They became very worried and contacted all their local councillors.

"If the playgroup closed, it would have a big effect on this area," Ms Needham says.

"It would be pretty huge. If kids aren't at school-age yet, there's not a ton for young kids to do around here."

After a meeting with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes on January 29, the organisers were given more hope for the future.

Newcastle City Council says the current arrangement is "absolutely going to be maintained".

They say the focus will now turn to applying for grant funding to upgrade and install new equipment.

'Entirely a matter for councils and Playgroup NSW'

Playgroup NSW says the problem of lack of venues has escalated so much that they have contacted Ms Upton to request a meeting.

At the moment five playgroups use the same hall over four days, with 50 local families involved on a regular basis. ( Supplied )

They would like councils to follow the example of Parramatta Council in offering free venues for playgroups.

"They have recognised the value of playgroups to ensure community cohesion and building social networks," the organisation says.

Parramatta Council confirmed it offers free venues at a loss, but "council believes the benefits to vulnerable communities, new parents and young families outweigh this small fiscal loss".

But it seems as if the Minister is unlikely to step in, with her spokesman saying: "Making local council facilities available to Playgroup NSW is entirely a matter for councils and Playgroup NSW to negotiate."

Mosman Council says it plays no role in regulation and it already runs a weekly Connections Playgroup that caters for more than 50 families, and contributes to other playgroups in the area.

Playgroup NSW says there are a lot of outside agencies who want to help.

"Clubs have offered spaces. Anywhere with a fenced yard and storage space could be suitable," it says.

Meanwhile, Mosman Melrose Playgroup's search for a new venue continues.