Kindergarten fees could be put beyond the reach of many Brimbank parents if the federal government cuts funding, according to one of the municipality’s main childcare providers.
Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) is urging the Abbott government to renew the plan under which it funds 4.25 hours of kindergarten a week.
Under the current arrangements, 15 hours of kindergarten are provided a week in the year before children start school, with the state government funding the other 10.75 hours.
The agreement is set to expire in December this year, raising concerns that kindergartens will have to increase fees paid by parents and carers.
ECMS offers 1075 four-year-old kindergarten places across its 16 Brimbank centres.
ECMS chief executive Bernie Nott said if the federal funding was abolished, early learning would be out of reach for many parents.
“Those working families now benefitting from universal access will have to find other arrangements for 170 hours a year.
“Alternatively, parents may be forced to accept fewer hours of learning and care, potentially compromising their child’s school- readiness and learning outcomes.”
Deer Park mother of three Zelalem Mikre said single or low-income families, in particular, might be forced to keep their children at home.
“My first child went to kinder, and it helped his development so much,” she said.
“He learnt things he couldn’t have learnt at home. It’s really unfair that not all children may get the same chance.”
Brimbank council community well-being director Neil Whiteside said the council had written to the federal government expressing dismay at the possibility the agreement might be dropped.
“Brimbank council is concerned … that without ongoing funding, fees will rise and, as a result, the level of kindergarten participation will drop due to its affordability,” he said.
The Department of Education did not respond before Star Weekly’s deadline. However, it renewed its commitment last year after an independent review into whether the states had met preschool access targets.
