General News
7 August, 2024
Solution emerges for Hopetoun's childcare crisis
Yarriambiack Shire Council has announced Emerge Early Years Service will begin working towards taking over the kindergarten and childcare services in both Hopetoun and Beulah.
The Hopetoun childcare service closure back in April left many families facing difficult decisions such as having to reduce their work hours while the cost of living rises, rely on friends and family to provide care, or relocate to another town.
Despite working with council and other organisation to resolve the issue, Uniting Vic Tas has been unable to recruit new service leaders.
Senior Manager Early Learning Operations for Uniting Vic Tas Paula Clarke said the ongoing shortage of qualified staff was a problem extending beyond the immediate region.
“Uniting offers kindergarten and childcare services across Victoria and Tasmania, and Hopetoun’s struggles are not an isolated case,” Ms Clarke said.
“On a daily basis we are facing staff shortages, and temporary room and centre closures across many of our services.
“It is a continuous balancing act, trying to keep as many places open as possible to assist families who desperately need childcare services.”
Yarriambiack Shire Council chief executive Tammy Smith said despite “considerable efforts to attract new personnel”, Uniting had been unsuccessful, and council had entered into discussion with other service providers.
“Although council does not run childcare services, it has been actively talking with Uniting to come up with ideas for reopening the services in a way that is sustainable and meets community needs in the long term,” Ms Smith said.
“On July 24 2024, councillors formally resolved to proceed with the community consultation process of the proposal to hand over the Hopetoun and Beulah combined kindergarten services to Emerge.
“This decision aligns with the objective of having a single service operator for both childcare and kindergarten services, with the overarching goal of reopening childcare in Hopetoun.”
Ms Smith said council also supported a change to a “co-located” model.
“It stands as the most viable strategy for the future, and is the optimal path for the centre's reopening going forward,” she said.
“This model enables greater flexibility assisting with staff-to-child ratios and meeting safety standards.”
The change will see one provider operating both the sessional kindergarten service, currently operated by Yarriambiack Shire, and the childcare service currently operated by Uniting Vic Tas.
Proposed plans were presented to those who attended the community consultation by representatives from Uniting Vic Tas, Emerge Early Years Service and Yarriambiack Shire Council, and Ms Smith said any and all possible solutions were discussed at the meeting.
“We want to assure families that Uniting, Emerge and Yarriambiack Shire are committed to exploring all options to reopen the service,” Ms Smith said.
"An individual has shown interest in providing In Venue Family Day Care Services from the Hopetoun Early Years building,” Ms Smith said.
“They have been asked to consult with local family day care operators for the necessary approval, and to initiate the assessment and registration process.
“This option would be supported as a temporary arrangement until childcare is operational.”
Council will schedule another meeting during the community consultation phase of the change in providers, aimed at those families affected by the closure who were unable to attend the July 18 meeting.
Childcare - nearly there
Emerge Early Years Service acting-chief executive Elicia Napoli said the not-for-profit organisation already operated kindergarten and childcare services on behalf of Hindmarsh Shire Council and Northern Grampians in Stawell, as well as kindergarten services for Horsham Rural City Council.
“All parties recognise that Emerge is best placed, as a locally-based early childhood provider, to reopen the childcare services and manage kindergarten in the Hopetoun and Beulah district moving forward,” said Ms Napoli.
“The Emerge Board of Management has endorsed expanding to take over the service, and will work with Yarriambiack Shire and Uniting through the community consultation and possible transfer process.”
But council has warned that the finish line is not quite in sight yet, and the parties would still need to navigate several obstacles before the childcare could be reopened.
“It has been made clear by Commonwealth Government officials that the Community Child Care Funding Restricted (CCCFR), currently granted to Uniting by agreement, is non-transferrable,” Ms Smith said.
“Before lobbying for CCCFR allocation, Emerge must obtain the standard Child Care Subsidy approval.”
Ms Smith said the information was disappointing as it would further delay reopening, but “it will not hinder our unified goal of reopening the centre.”
“The sessional kindergarten in Hopetoun and Beulah will continue in 2025, and plans for the pre-prep roll out are currently underway,” Ms Smith said.
“Families will be invited to participate in an engagement process with both Yarriambiack Shire and Emerge on how this will be implemented.”
Residents and families in Hopetoun and Beulah are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on both the change in service provider from Uniting Vic Tas to Emerge Early Years Service, and the change to a co-located model which means one provider will operate both the childcare and kindergarten services.
The feedback window is open for 28 days, and closes at 9am on August 22 2024.
Community members can either submit their thoughts online via council’s website at www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/Engage-With-Us/Share-Your-Feedback, or by mailing a written response to the Chief Executive Officer, at PO Box 243, Warracknabeal, Vic 3393.
Anyone seeking further information can contact Yarriambiack Shire Council CEO Tammy Smith during business hours by calling (03) 5398 0100.