By ANEEKA SIMONIS
IMMINENT plans to close an Officer childcare centre have thrown parents into a tailspin – with some desperately pleading with the operator to keep their doors open.
Officer Early Childhood Centre, operated by Mission Australia, last week announced its expected closure in May, according to Early Learning General Manager Marie Howard.
“Our lease expires on 26 May 2015 and while we have not yet determined the final date of operations for the service, we anticipate that it will be shortly prior to this date,” she wrote in a letter to parents.
Pakenham mum Jaclyn Bedford, who has confidently used the centre for two years since the birth of her first child, said she was devastated at the news.
“The centre is amazing. My bub was just about to start in two weeks as I return to work and my eldest has been there nearly two years,” she said.
Her two-year-old daughter Illuka, who looks at her carers as if they were family, on days at home still “wakes up and asks if she can go to daycare”.
“It’s gonna be hard to find a new place for all these kids but even harder for them to transition,” the mum said.
Jaclyn, who admitted to crying when confronted with the news on Thursday 26 February, said she couldn’t imagine sending her daughters to another childcare centre.
“I get a good feeling when I drop her off there – most are nannas themselves so they’re experienced and treat the kids like their own children,” she said.
“Some centres you go to are staffed by young girls without kids – I’d feel nervous dropping them off there.”
The daycare centre was one of 29 unviable ABC learning centres purchased by Mission Australia in 2009.
A Mission Australia spokesperson described the closure as “regrettable”, saying the Officer group became unviable because of consistently low enrolment numbers.
“Mission Australia prides itself on delivering the highest standards of care, however an operational review determined that consistently low enrolment was putting pressure on the centre’s ongoing viability,” the spokesperson said.
Jaclyn questioned the decision, which she claimed did not make sense given the increasing number of residents setting up their families in the shire.
“Pakenham and surrounding areas are just booming. More people are coming – how can we be closing down a centre?”
Fellow parent Julie, who contacted the Gazette via its Facebook page, agreed.
“Where does that leave the parents? You’re not helping us Australians in need!”
Mission Australia also revealed the co-located St Brigid’s Primary Outside of School Hours Program would also cease operations at the end of term two.
The care group provided parents a list of other early learning centres in the area and did not rule out the possibility for a new childcare operator taking over the lease.
“Staff members also have access to support through our Employee Assistance Program and our staff chaplain,” the spokesperson said.
The Gazette contacted staff at the childcare centre, who did not provide a comment about the impending closure.
