It has taken print ads in ACT publications boasting a solution, within a "short drive to Canberra", to long waiting lists at childcare centres.

The advertisements, placed by Goulburn Australia with the backing of the Goulburn Mulwaree Council, report there are more than 200 childcare places available in the municipality.

Several hundred people already make the commute to work in the greater Canberra region from Goulburn, and there is a Facebook page dedicated to helping people carpool to work in the ACT.

Mother-of-two Debbie Sibbick carpools with four colleagues from Queanbeyan City Council.

"I used to work at the ANU Law School and I moved to Goulburn when I was on maternity leave 17 years ago," she said.

"My husband's family were in Goulburn and it's a nice safe place for the children. There's a real sense of community here and we love coming home."

The council's economic development projects officer Debbi Rodden said a growing number of Canberra workers were thinking of moving.

"According to the 2011 census, 777 – or 6.4 per cent – of Goulburn Mulwaree's residents commute to Canberra for work," she said. "Anecdotally, the figure is significantly more than that.

"With the downturn in the ACT public service, Goulburn is seeing an increase in Canberra applicants for Goulburn jobs."

The council's acting manager of strategic marketing, Jessica Price, said the campaign was the council's biggest expenditure on advertising.

"Over $110,000 was spent for stage one during 2012/13 and close to $200,000 for stage two, which is currently in market," she said.

"The aim is to promote Goulburn as a destination to visit, live, work and invest in, and to change people's perceptions of the region. We are trying to position Goulburn Mulwaree as a progressive and innovative community that offers attractive lifestyle choices."

The campaign website has been receiving a lot of hits, she said.