Council pushes for kinder equality

CASEY Council has called for a fairer deal for the city’s toddlers.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting, councillors resolved to write to the state and federal governments asking that three-year-old kindergarten programs receive the same government subsidies as four-year-old kindergarten programs.
Casey councillor Michael Farley was behind the push to seek more government funding for parents of three-year-olds.
He said this would help the city’s young families cover the costs of junior kindergarten.
In an amendment moved by councillor Colin Butler, council also moved that existing parent run three-year-old kindergarten committees that are part of Casey’s Kindergarten Cluster Management become council operated.
This would only be at the request of the parent run three-year old committees and only apply to programs located within Casey’s kindergarten cluster.
Independent kindergarten services that wish to come under Casey’s kindergarten cluster management, would also be given the option to transfer their three year old programs, with full cost recovery through parent fees.
Councillor Lorraine Wreford said she would like to see the cost of three-year-old kindergarten alleviated.
She said many children benefited from the programs.
The motion also stated that the three year old kindergarten services would still be delivered at no cost to council and that state-funded four-year-old kindergarten programs be given priority in relation to the use of Casey’s kindergarten venues.
Casey deputy mayor Rob Wilson raised concerns that if council was successful in gaining state and federal funding there would be a huge rise in demand for three-year-old services, which in turn would place pressure on council facilities.