By JESSE GRAHAM
FAMILY day care services offered by Yarra Ranges Council could cease as of next year following a decision at tonight’s (Tuesday) council meeting.
But, though a conclusion has not been reached, the council has said that stopping the service won’t adversely impact families and educators.
At the council’s 24 June meeting, councillors will discuss the possibility of ending provision of its Family Day Care (FDC) Scheme for the municipality.
The move to stop the scheme has come as a result of financial pressure, according to Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Social and Economic Development Ali Wastie.
Ms Wastie said that federal budget cuts to the FDC scheme of about $67,000 as well as ongoing council subsidies to the scheme are making it unsustainable.
The council is funding the scheme with a $92,000 subsidy for the 2013-2014 financial year which, according to the council, is about $1 for every hour of care delivered by educators.
Ms Wastie said that, while cost neutrality is not the only determinant for keeping a service running, ending the council’s FDC scheme will have little social impact, with five other providers servicing the area.
“By exiting, there’s no loss in social benefit,” she said.
“We have to weigh up the social benefit in this decision.”
If the scheme is ended, the council will transition families on FDC programs to other providers before services would be due to cease on 1 July 2015.
Council employees could be accommodated elsewhere in the company, or would possibly leave to work with other providers, according to Ms Wastie.
However, she emphasised that nothing was final until the councillors made a decision.
“We’re anticipating that there will be concern out there – internally, there’s concern for staff who are impacted,” Ms Wastie said.
“We’re working with staff to make sure they get necessary support – but we’ll wait until next Tuesday to find out what the council decision is.”
The council employs 21 educators who provide childcare for 101 families across the Yarra Ranges.
For the result of tonight’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting, visit mail.starcommunity.com.au and see next week’s Mail.
