Carer plea for ABC

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE childcare provider Robyn Jane Children’s Services is ready and willing to take over the failed ABC Learning Centre in Healesville, but not without help.
Healesville ABC Learning Centre is one of 249 ABC centres deemed not viable under the ABC model.
The centres were put in the hands of court-appointed receivers PPB in December and funded by the Federal Government to operate until 31 March.
PPB has said one option for the centres was to find new owners.
RJCS is keen to fulfil that option.
A community-run not-for-profit operation providing 35 places at its Haig Avenue centre it says it wants to expand its services, but needs government assistance to do it.
Director Jan Amos said the committee of management had been aware for some time of the need to increase the range of childcare services in the area, including occasional and vacation care, specialist services and more long-term childcare places.
The committee had invested a significant amount of time in unsuccessfully seeking funding to expand services, including buying new premises, extending or using other buildings in the town.
Ms Amos said RJCS sympathised with the plight of parents and staff at ABC in Healesville and as a community-minded organisation had registered its interest in operating the centre while it was under receivership.
“We wish to ensure that childcare services are maintained in the town for those children,” Ms Amos said.
“We are not, however, financially in a position to offer additional services without additional funding.”
Ms Amos said families in Healesville had been let down by government policy that had not been supportive of childcare services run by highly qualified and experienced providers.
“In light of the very large sums of money now being poured into addressing the problems caused by the collapse of ABC Learning, we would hope that the government would apply sufficient funds to ensuring that all families in Healesville are able to access high-quality, secure and comprehensive childcare services, now and in the future, and as a service we would certainly be very supportive of such a process,” Ms Amos said.
She said RJCS was committed to continuing to provide high-quality childcare to all families in Healesville. “We continue to hope that opportunities arise for us to expand the services we are currently able to offer,” Ms Amos said.