By KATH GANNAWAY
IT WILL be plain sailing for pre-school educators, parents and kinder kids in Mount Evelyn, Montrose and Coldstream for the next two years … at least.
After almost a year of intense lobbying, the Federal Government last week came through with a commitment to continue its funding of five hours of preschool costs through to 2017.
The recommended 15 hours of preschool for four-year-olds is currently funded by the State Government for 10 hours and the Federal Government for five under the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education.
The commonwealth funding, however, expires in December and, until this week, there was no guarantee it would be continued.
The uncertainty placed pressure on groups like Yarra Ranges Kinders who manage 10 Yarra Ranges Council pre-schools across the shire, including Mount Evelyn, Montrose and Coldstream.
Yarra Ranges Kinders’ Executive Officer, Heidi Perry, said it was welcome news that would provide some certainty for staff, and relief for family budgets.
Mount Evelyn is one of the hot-spots in the YRK portfolio that includes pre-schools from Belgrave across to Warburton.
“Mount Evelyn is currently full and there is a waiting list for next year,” Ms Perry said, adding that there were three pre-schools servicing that community.
Montrose was full when they signed up with YRK, but their numbers fluctuate, and Coldstream varied from full-time to part-time, she said.
Ms Perry said staff continuity was important across all their sites and while full-time and part-time staff were considered as permanent positions, they were always subject to ongoing viability, and funding was a big factor.
For parents, there was a potential 100 per cent fee increase without the funding, putting pre-school beyond the reach of many families.
“If the funding wasn’t there, we would have to go back to 10 hours, or charge fees that are not affordable,” Ms Perry said.
“Obviously, we would love to have a permanent commitment, but two years is a start and will make it much easier for forward planning.
“This does give us more certainty.”
The 10 pre-schools are part of the network of 66 pre-schools and childcare centres that offer 15 hours of kindergarten to nearly 2000 children across the municipality.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said the council had thrown its support behind the Municipal Association of Victoria campaign urging the Federal Government to renew its funding commitment.
“The announcement is a win for Yarra Ranges families who would have faced a significant fee increase if the federal government had not renewed its funding agreement,” she said.
Part of the MAV’s campaign was ramped up in February with the release of the Productivity Commission’s report into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning which supported continued Commonwealth investment in preschool programs.
MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur, said the funding was not only welcome, but imperative to the learning outcomes of future generations.
“The two years of funding is a great start, and we will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure longevity,” he said.
