Yesterday in Parliament, Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad called on the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development in the Baillieu Government, Ms Lovell to continue funding for the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program.
Ms Broad told Parliament that she had a received a letter from Mr Graeme Davison ,the Chairman of the Warracknabeal Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre, seeking her support to prevent the cessation of funding for the Take a Break program in Warracknabeal.
“There are only two child-care facilities in Warracknabeal, both of which are running at full capacity. Some 37 families currently use the Take a Break program, which employs two dedicated staff members. Some of the parents work while their children attend the program and they have nowhere else for their children to go while they work,” Ms Broad said.
“If the program closes, these parents will have to cease work.”
“If the program closes, some parents will not be able to further their education because there will be nowhere for their children to go,” Ms Broad said.
“Removing funding for the Take a Break program would be devastating for Warracknabeal because no nearby towns have child-care places available.”
“While some such towns are lucky enough to have child-care programs other than Take a Break, those programs are at capacity now,” Ms Broad said.
The Take a Break Occasional Child Care program is provided at more than 220 neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria.