Sydney's southern suburbs would be home to the city's second 24-hour childcare centre under a proposal from the local council to provide around-the-clock care for children whose parents work shifts.

Georges River Council has started community consultation to explore whether there is enough demand in its local government area - which takes in Kogarah, Hurstville and Peakhurst - to set up a 24-hour childcare service.

Around-the-clock childcare centres are rare in Australia. Credit:Peter Braig

A spokeswoman for the council said that Kogarah - which is home to the St George Hospital and St George Private Hospital medical precinct - had been selected as a potential location for the centre.

That was because of "the significant number of key services in the locality that employ shift workers, including fire stations, hospitals, health clinics and businesses", the spokeswoman said.