By Bonny Burrows and Peter Douglas
Local childcare operators will no longer manage Emerald Preschool and Avonsleigh Preschool, with Cardinia Shire Council opting to outsource the service.
Despite the protests of local parents and teachers, Cardinia Shire Council has announced its childcare services will be outsourced to the Western Australian-based One Tree and Glen Waverley-based Best Chance.
Shire-wide, it is expected 60 jobs will be lost.
Best Chance will manage the hills-based preschools, with five-year licences awarded over the local Kinders Together organisation.
Cardinia Shire Council has maintained the decision will leave them better placed to offer early childcare services amid a growing population.
The shire said children in the 0-4 years bracket represent the largest growing population in the region, while the new providers will provide numerous new and enhanced services.
Meanwhile, Gembrook MP Brad Battin, who met with about 40 parents recently to discuss their concerns, called for the shire to halt its “flawed” process.
“The Shire of Cardinia has failed to consult with parents about the future of their children’s education. This … could impact on outcomes for children and will result in the loss of jobs in Cardinia,” Mr Battin said.
“Cardinia Shire Council must stop this process, not sign any new contracts and speak to the passionate mums and dads who deserve to be heard.”
Parents, who have joined together to form the Keep Our Kinders Together campaign, are outraged they were not consulted on a process which directly impacted on their children’s future and are devastated that what they said was the council’s “neglect” could place their children “at risk”.
Adding “insult” to the already hurt parents was council sending 2018 kindergarten offers to them, just days after the announcement of the successful applicants of the tender.
But the signing of One Tree has left some parents sick to their stomach after news surfaced that the organisation was last year subject to disciplinary action at the West Australia state tribunal after an incident in which a staff member at one of its centres was found not to have adequately cared for a child.
Cardinia Shire Council CEO Garry McQuillan said this information was readily shared with the council and the organisation had been assured that such an incident would not occur again.
“Through the expressions of interest (EOI) process, all applicants declared relevant incidents to the management of early childhood services and facilities,” Mr McQuillan said.
“This included the declaration by One Tree Community Services of an incident that occurred at one of its centres in Western Australia in 2016.
“This was the first incident in 43 years of operating and was a result of a break-in at the centre the night prior.”
