Families Rally to Save Neighbourhood House Childcare

150 Neighbourhood House Occasional child care providers, parents, carers, kids and supporters from across Victoria gathered in winter sunshine at State Parliament on June 30 to voice concern over decisions by both the Federal and State governments to withdraw funding for community-based occasional child care.

At the rally Angela Savage, ANHLC executive officer, handed a petition over to Jenny Mikakos, Shadow Minister for Childcare. The 3,200 signature petition, formally requests the Baillieu government to re allocate funding to subsidise community based OCC in Victoria to ensure the continued delivery of this vital service beyond December 2011.

Despite the bright weather on the day those attending the rally fear the future of NHOCC is bleak without government funding support. Many services will have to close or increase fees to keep the doors open. Many occasional childcare services already operate at a deficit, keeping the service going with cross-subsidies and local fundraising.

Their requirements are modest: providers received an average of $7,000 each through the Take A Break program. All up, the occasional child care program in Victoria costs the state and federal governments only $2 million per year. Combined.

Local MPs from all political persuasions have expressed their support for the occasional child care program. Jenny Mikakos (ALP) and Colleen Hartland (Greens) addressed the rally along with the Hon Bruce Billson MP, Federal Member for Dunkley, who spoke on behalf of Shadow Minister Sussan Ley. ANHLC is grateful for this support and calls on politicians from all parties to take the next step and work towards a non-partisan approach to resolving the occasional childcare funding crisis.

‘We have seen a lot of buck passing on this issue between the state and federal governments. Those of us here at the rally today, together with thousands more supporters who could not be here, will not tolerate the current political stand-off. We want these vital services sustained.’ Angela Savage said in her speech to the rally. Angela went on to say ‘The Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres strongly believes occasional child care should not fall victim to politicians’ inability to cooperate. This is a program that deserves to be saved. ANHLC calls on governments at both levels and specifically on Federal Childcare Minister Kate Ellis and State Childcare Minister Wendy Lovell to see sense, take our communities’ concerns seriously, and fund occasional child care properly.’

The rally is only one activity in ongoing advocacy efforts by communities which – as one politician told rally organisers – means ‘there’s not a politician in Victoria who’s not aware of the issues [with occasional child care]’. ANHLC members and other community-based OCC providers have done an outstanding job of letter writing, lobbying their local state and federal members, and working with the local media and social media to keep this issue in the spotlight.

For some at the rally direct involvement in the political process is a new thing. One parent at the rally said ‘You know, I’ve voted all my life, but this is the first time I’ve ever asked for anything. And I’ve been very disappointed at the major parties’ response.’

Occasional child care is a small budget, high impact program. Families rely on occasional care not only for respite, but to work, study and volunteer. Occasional care supports workforce participation for shift workers, seasonal workers and those who work from home. Occasional care provides full-time carers, including grandparent carers and carers of children with disability, with some time out. In farming communities, occasional care provides a safe space for children to be out of harm’s way when there is dangerous work needed on the farm. In all cases, families are assured of quality care provided by qualified professionals in safe and friendly environments.

In community-based settings like neighbourhood houses and learning centres, occasional child care is a pathway into volunteering, learning and skills development, and connecting with the community. Government funding for occasional child care benefits not only the 9,000 families who receive subsidised care, but many others in the community who rely on the service.