Parents in limbo

By Kath Gannaway
THE future of Healesville Central ABC Early Learning Centre remains undecided, leaving staff and parents in limbo.
ABC Learning Ltd went into voluntary administration last month leaving Receiver Chris Honey of McGrath-Nicol to sort out the fate of more than 1000 centres.
The Healesville centre that caters for nearly 60 babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers is one of those in danger of closing.
While Mr Honey announced last week that they were working with the government on a plan to secure a place for every ABC child next year, he said hopes of providing a definitive answer for parents and staff for one third of the centres would have to wait another week.
“The reality is we are working through an extremely complex corporate collapse,” he said.
For Healesville mum Jodi Schoffer the collapse has made her life also extremely complex.
Ms Schoffer’s daughter Alicia is cared for at the centre two days a week while her mother works.
“We really don’t know what’s happening, but there is no doubt we need this centre in the town,” she said.
“I have told my employer to do the roster after Christmas, but that I can’t plan any further ahead than that.”
The only other childcare centre in town has no vacancies and while Ms Schoffer said she could go out of the town for childcare, there are real benefits for Alicia and other local children attending childcare locally.
“There are five kids who go to ABC now who she (Alicia) will more than likely go to kinder and primary school with.
“It makes a huge difference to her circle of friends. She is so much more confident and just a happier child here with her friends.”
Building that sense of community early Ms Schoffer said was part of what parents wanted for their child.
“The staff at Healesville ABC are fantastic,” she said. “They’re all local girls who you see when you shop at Coles, or down the street and it doesn’t matter whether they are in uniform or not, Alicia just lights up when she sees them.”
Ms Schoffer said she had tried three centres before placing her daughter at Healesville in what she believed would provide a valuable transition through pre-school and on to school.
That continuity is not restricted to the children. She said several of the mothers went to mothers’ group together and enjoyed the fact that they and the children were able to stay in touch.
Not working is not an option.
“If I don’t work, we’re going backwards,” Ms Schoffer said.
Ms Schoffer said while she works part-time, some of the parents work full-time, many in Healesville, and rely on the local service.
“What I would like to see is some other childcare facility, or other the shire put up their hand and take the centre on as of January,” she said.
Mr Honey has said while no sale process has been put in place at this stage there had been a large number of people expressing their interest (in purchasing centres) and that expressions of interest were being taken.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae told the Mail she had raised the possibility of the shire looking at adding another centre to the two they already operate at Kilsyth and Upwey and would continue to pursue the matter.