ABC Berwick Central is one of 12 ABC Learning centres in the City of Casey guaranteed to remain open in 2009.
By Lia Bichel
ONLY half of the 24 ABC Learning centres in the City of Casey have been guaranteed to stay open in 2009, leaving hundreds of parents facing uncertainty about childcare.
In the City of Casey, 24 of the 66 long-day childcare services are provided by ABC Learning, with 1852 of the available 4708 places belonging to the childcare giant.
Twelve of those centres are guaranteed to stay open, while the rest are on a list titled “ABC Learning Centres subject to further operational review’’.
Wendy Lovell, shadow minister for children and early childhood development, has called on Minister Maxine Morand and local Labor MP Luke Donnellan to work with local-government and community organisations to ensure no Victorian families are disadvantaged by the closure of ABC Learning centres in Casey.
“It is the responsibility of the Minister and Luke Donnellan to ensure childcare places will be available in 2009 for Casey parents disadvantaged by the ABC Learning centre closures,” she said.
“Casey families deserve certainty that they will have access to professional and secure childcare after Christmas and beyond.”
Mr Donnellan did not respond to the News’ calls at time of print.
ABC Learning centres in the City of Casey guaranteed to operate in 2009 are:
ABC Berwick Central, ABC Lynbrook, ABC Endeavour Hills, ABC Galloway Drive in Narre Warren, ABC Narre Warren, ABC Narre Warren Pound Road, ABC Narre Warren North, ABC Narre Warren South Central and ABC Sherwood Road in Narre Warren South, ABC Hampton Park, ABC Hampton Park South and ABC Heatherton Hills.
