A family day care program that has operated in Moorabool for 10 years has been axed by the council.
Bacchus Marsh’s Bambi Hannah, a carer since 2002, said some of the program’s four educators were ‘‘quite shaken up’’and concerned about their next move.
‘‘We have single ladies paying mortgages and providing for young families,” she said.
Councillors last week made the decision to cease funding the service from June 30, citing difficulty in recruiting new educators and increased costs to council.
Chief executive Rob Croxford said there were five private family day care operators in the area that could make the transition smooth for all involved.
“We have made the decision that it isn’t a core role council needs to play when there are these other service providers in the market,” he said.
Federal figures released last week show the number of children attending family day care – where children are cared for in the carer’s home – has increased by 20 per cent in the past year. More than 30 per cent of the 142,000 who attend family day care are from regional and remote areas.
Ms Hannah looks after nine children across four days.
“We do things from changing nappies to reading books; we drop and pick up kids from school or kinder and home.”
Mayor Paul Tatchell said it was a tough decision. “It wasn’t about the people who do the job; it was about how we manage that program against the private sector.”
The decision comes as Family Day Care Australia calls on the federal government to increase funding to the early childhood sector, with more than 61 per cent of all family day care services operating in regional areas.
Mr Croxford said the savings would equate to about 1 per cent of its rates budget. These funds will be used for other community programs and services.
