A campaign to save two Hobsons Bay childcare centres from being outsourced has been renewed amid fears about the impact on staff, parents and children.
The Save Our Centres campaign aims to keep the Altona North and Altona Meadows childcare centres in council hands.
In February, the council put on hold a proposal to outsource the centres to save $300,000 after more than 1000 people signed a petition against the move.
Rachel Hart, who has a three-year-old daughter at Altona North and a newborn on the waiting list, said parents had made a strong case to consultants conducting a review.
“At the community session last week there was overwhelming support for council to have a role in the operation and management of early childhood services in Hobsons Bay,’’ she said.
“It was evident from the parents in the room that waiting lists are long and people were actively trying to get into these two centres because of the renowned quality of care.”
Australian Services Union women’s officer Jane Karslake said outsourcing the centres would jeopardise the quality of care and put jobs at risk. Sixty-seven staff would have to reapply for their jobs and could face a $12,000 pay cut. Under the current agreement, the council pays staff above award wages.
“If they are successful in keeping their jobs, their current employment conditions are only going to be maintained until 2016, at which point their wages will be reduced,” Ms Karslake said.
A certificate III-qualified educator could have their annual pay slashed from $49,000 to $37,000.
Ms Karslake said it was ludicrous to consider outsourcing services in the uncertain political climate. Federal budget papers show funding for the program, which provides an additional five hours of four-year-old preschool education, is only guaranteed to December.
“We’re not just talking about a little bit of uncertainty. This is uncertainty that absolutely puts everything up in the air for all families who need to hold down two jobs, and that’s the majority of families in the community,” Ms Karslake said.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the council was monitoring proposed changes to government funding and undertaking a thorough, independent review.
