A campaign by concerned parents has forced a possible backflip on plans to privatise the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre in Footscray.
On Wednesday, Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari announced that council would move to reinstate a not-for-profit clause in the Western Bulldogs lease on the childcare centre which is located on council owned land next to the club’s Whitten Oval headquarters.
Following lobbying from the football club, Maribyrnong council last month adopted a notice of motion to remove the clause stipulating that the Bulldogs Childcare Centre could only be operated by a not-for-profit.
The Western Bulldogs pushed for the change after expressing dissatisfaction with the centre’s current not-for-profit operator, Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS).
However, the move angered parents of children enrolled at the centre who feared a decline in the quality of care if it was privatised.
An online petition calling for the centre to remain not-for-profit attracted nearly 2000 signatures, while council received more than 100 submissions demanding the decision to be reversed.
In a Facebook post on July 16, Maribyrong mayor Pradeep Tiwari said council would attempt to do just that.
“We’ve heard the community and we know what our community wants,” said Cr Tiwari
While the motion still needs to be passed at a council meeting on July 22, ECMS chief executive Kieren Kearney welcomed the news and thanked parents for supporting not-for-profit childcare.
“The strength of the campaign run by parents has been truly inspiring,“ Mr Kearney said.
One of those parents, West Footscray resident Dylan Alexander, said while he was confident the motion to reinstate would pass, a long term commitment to the not-for-profit clause was needed.
“From a parent’s perspective there might be some concern that we’ll be having the same fight again in 10 years time,” Mr Alexander said.
“We’d really like to see a long term commitment to protecting the not for profit element of the centre to protect the quality of the care and most importantly, ensuring the safety of our kids.”
He also expressed disappointment with the Western Bulldogs for pushing to privatise the childcare centre in the first place.
“It’s fair to say they’ve a lost a bit of community goodwill through this process.”
In a statement to Star Weekly, the Western Bulldogs said the club’s sole motivation was to provide the best possible care and facilities at the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre.
“We maintain that enabling flexibility would provide the best chance of delivering that outcome,“ the statement said.
The club said it would wait for the outcome of the vote before making any further decisions.
