On a visit to Wallan Neighbourhood House today, Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad took time out to listen to the concerns of co-ordinators, staff, volunteers and parents who will be affected by the Baillieu-Ryan Goverment’s decision to stop funding the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program.
Ms Broad urged the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell to take up the challenge of convincing the Premier, Mr Baillieu, that the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program should be a priority for the Baillieu-Ryan Government.
“As a first step I urge the Minister to visit Neighbourhood Houses in her electorate like the Wallan Neighbourhood House that are providing the program and ask these co-ordinators, staff, volunteers and parents what the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program means to them,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program is provided at more than 220 neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria.
“It allows parents and guardians to participate in activities including a visit to the doctor, meeting people in their community, study, recreational classes, and voluntary community activities while their children socialise and interact with other children in an early learning environment”.
“Stopping funding for the Take a Break Occasional Child Care program means that families acrossVictoriawill be unable to access affordable, community-based occasional childcare to undertake tasks that benefit the family,” Ms Broad said.
“It will also mean that staff will move away to take up job opportunities if they think funding is stopping.”
Ms Broad called on the Baillieu-Ryan Government to follow the lead of the
Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and NSW governments to
continue funding this very important childcare service.