Colac Otway Focused on Expanding Childcare Opportunities
April 8, 2024
Colac Otway Shire Council will focus on expanding its Family Day Care Service and providing convenient, flexible childcare options for parents, aiming to have more educators in place before the end of 2021.
Council General Manager Ian Seuren said the expansion of Colac Otway’s Family Day Care was important for working parents and employers in the shire, particularly for future business and population growth.
“An increase in Family Day Care services will become even more important by the end of the year, when Barwon Child, Youth & Family ends its long day care program at Wydinia Early Learning Centre in Colac,” Mr Seuren said.
“BCYF has advised Council of its intention to deliver standalone three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten programs at Wydinia from 2022 onwards.
“Wydinia ELC staff have provided a high quality and much-needed long daycare childcare service for many years and we expect the community will greatly miss this service.
“We understand there will be up to 40 families who use the service currently, and who may need to look at other childcare options, including potentially a combination of three-year-old or four-year-old kindergarten and childcare.
“Colac is fortunate to have privately operated centres, however the expansion of the Council-managed Family Day Care program will be extremely important to provide new childcare opportunities which suit parents’ or guardians’ work arrangements and individual family situations,” he said.
“Council is encouraging anyone who enjoys working with children and is interested in a new, rewarding and flexible career to learn more about the necessary requirements to becoming an educator with the Family Day Care program.”
Being a FDC Educator can be a great career choice and allows you to work in your own home environment, with the support of Council’s FDC coordination team and access to a wide range of resources and training opportunities.
Visit Council’s website for information about Family Day Care at www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Family-children/Family-Day-Care or call Colac Otway’s FDC coordination team on (03) 5232 9400 to discuss being an educator or registering your interest in accessing Family Day Care.
Council Enquiries
(03) 5232 9400