By ANEEKA SIMONIS
YMCA’s switch from child care to sports clinic angers parents…
WORKING parents are outraged following Cardinia Life’s decision to end the current YMCA School Holiday Program.
“To say I am devastated is a gross understatement,” said Tammi Payne, mother of twin boys Nathaniel and Alexander, 7, who frequent the program in Pakenham.
During the last week of the school holidays, YMCA told parents the full-day program run by qualified carers will be replaced by a clinic-based sports program directed by sport coaches during the next break.
Council specified the program is a sports-clinic and not a child care program so normal carer regulations do not apply as they would under Child Service’s Regulations.
“I bring my children confident (knowing) they will receive the kind of care I want them to receive. The staff are excellent and I have absolute faith that my children will be looked after and attended to should anything go wrong,” said Tammi who told of her son who has overcome major separation anxiety through his contact with the current carers.
“They won’t receive that in a clinic-based program, and I won’t feel the confidence in leaving them.
“As far as I am concerned, it’s not safe… they are not babysitters. They’re not paid to care for kids,” she said of the sportsmen due to run the future YMCA program.
The current program, which keeps kids busy with a range of activities such as arts, crafts, science and sports education, has been cancelled due to funding issues.
“Changes to the Children’s Services framework in recent years have significantly increased the cost of providing the program. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in the fees charged by providers,” said YMCA Cardinia’s area manager Chris Hargraves.
“For some time, Cardinia Life has been heavily subsidising the program however, for the program to continue in the current format we would have to increase fees to a level that would be unaffordable for many families.”
Tammi, the owner of a cleaning business, said her children will not be enrolled into the new sports-based program, and this will affect her earnings over the holiday period.
“I will lose income because I will have to pay someone else to do my shifts and that’s even if I can get the staff,” she said.
“I will have to turn down jobs if push comes to shove.”
Council said other activities will be offered over the school holiday period, but Tammi believes none are suitable for her family as her twins need minding for a full working day.
“Considering that the only alternative is school operated (or part day care) and completely over booked, working parents like myself will be forced to either take time off without pay or take my children and my money away from my local community,” she said.
Her disappointment has been mirrored by other concerned parents.
“There is no other form of all-day vacation care available in Cardinia for working parents and stopping this is affecting so many families and children,” said Bonnie Koffman, whose children also attend the YMCA school program.
But Mr Hargraves believes the change will be good for kids.
“Cardinia Life would like to try something new and provide a pathway for kids to ‘try out’ the stadium sports currently run and supported at Cardinia Life, with a view to increasing participation in the sports themselves.”
Tammi said Member for Gembrook Brad Battin had been contacted by at least one parent in hope the decision may be overturned.
