Amy Hume
THE responsibility for occasional child care in rural areas, including three childcare centres in Mitchell, has the State and Federal Governments butting heads.
The question of accountability follows the recent withdrawal of State Government funding from the Take-a-Break occasional childcare program from December this year.
The program allows parents and guardians personal time while their children socialise and interact with other children in an early learning environment.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell told The Review on Friday that the State Government was willing to reinstate its funding if the Federal Government came to the party.
However, Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell hinted that the former 70 percent Federal and 30 percent Labor funding agreement for the program was not likely to be reinstated.
Mr Mitchell said the former Brumby Government agreed for the Federal Government to invest $210.6 million in universal access to preschools in exchange for its 70 percent Take-a-Break funding.
“It’s a bit rich for the State Government to complain. They got a pretty good deal from this agreement,” he said.
“This is purely the Baillieu Government trying to shirk responsibility.
“The Baillieu Government’s claim that it should be solely funded by the Federal Government is just nonsense and an excuse to why it’s chosen to slash funding.
“The Baillieu Government will not get away will trying to fool local families and parents by trying to pass the blame onto the Federal Government.”
In a letter to the editor this week, Member for Northern Victoria Donna Petrovich says the funding was a Federal responsibility.
“Despite the comments from Mr Mitchell, the funding of childcare is a Federal Government responsibility,” she said.
“In its May 2010 Budget, the Federal Labor Government discontinued funding for the TAB Occasional Care program.
“Upon its election, the Baillieu Government formally requested the Gillard Labor Government to reinstate TAB Occasional Care funding, as the program could not be sustained on State funding alone.
“Unfortunately the Federal Minister failed to respond to Victoria’s request, and the 2011-12 Federal Budget failed to reinstate the program.”
Angela Savage, from the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres, said many centres offering the program could be in danger of closing it down or may be forced to limit the program due to a lack of funds.
She said government funding was vital and there was a lot of “finger pointing” and no action.
“At the moment both governments are pointing the finger at each other. No one’s taking responsibility,” she said.
“It’s hard for our members. This is a high impact program and both governments are responsible to sit down and figure out where this is going.”
Wandong mother Robyn Mumberson said her children used the program to help them adjust to kindergarten.
“It’s really sad that they are stopping the funding,” she said.
“I found the program to be a really valuable, cheap alternative. My children didn’t need full-time child care, just the experience of being away from mum and knowing I’d be back again.
“My children are school-age now but I think it’s a shame that other parents might not have that opportunity.”
Ms Savage said ANHLC has set up a petition at each centre supporting the program including Seymour and District Community House, Wallan Neighbourhood House and Kilmore and District Community Centre.
“Every centre with the program has a petition that we will put to parliament,” she said.
Ms Savage said at this point it was hard to gauge how successful their pleas for funding will be.
The affected Mitchell centres have banded together to write letters to local MPs but have not yet had a response.
