Rally to end political stand off on child care

Occasional child care providers, parents, kids, carers and supporters will rally on the steps of the Victorian Parliament this Thursday to protest against funding cuts that leave more than 50 services at risk of closure and others obliged to raise fees to keep the doors open.

A petition will be tabled in the Legislative Council signed by nearly 2,000 people on the same day. The petition calls on the Baillieu Government to allocate funding to community-based childcare and ensure the continued delivery of this service beyond the end of this year when existing funds will dry up.

The rally, organised by the Association of Neighbourhood Houses & Learning Centres (ANHLC), builds on awareness raising work with federal and state politicians across Victoria, highlighting the distressing impacts of the funding cuts on communities.

‘The Federal and State governments have traditionally shared responsibility for funding occasional childcare in Victoria. But the new Victorian government elected to pull the plug on the program entirely in 2011,’ says ANHLC, Executive Officer, Angela Savage.

‘The Victorian government says it will reinstate its contribution if the Federal government reinstates its funding. The Federal government maintains because it is picking up costs in other early childhood services, the states should fund community-based occasional care,’ Ms Savage says.

‘Communities are tired of all the political buck-passing. They just want to see these vital services sustained.’

For months now, the ANHLC has offered to work with governments at both levels to develop a solution to the crisis.

‘We’re talking about a small budget, high impact program,’ Ms Savage said. ‘Frankly, it’s baffling that either government thinks there’s more to be gained from cutting the program than sustaining it.’

‘Victorians have made it abundantly clear that they rely on occasional child care not only for respite, but to work, study and volunteer. The ANHLC calls on governments at both levels to quit playing the blame game and work together to ensure families have access to affordable, locally available occasional child care.’

Event details

Rally to Save Occasional Child Care

Steps of Victorian Parliament

Thurs 30 June 2011, 1.00-2.00pm

-Ends-

For comment / further information:

Angela Savage, Executive Officer, ANHLC, ph. 0432 697 263