First, a quick recap. Families at Coventry Children’s Centre are on tenterhooks about Council closing their centre for at least two years to accommodate children decanted from community-run centres that are set to be upgraded.
The families are unhappy because Coventry is being disbanded so community-run centres can maintain continuity of care and operation during redevelopment. But, as previous TWiSK reports have found, Coventry is one of two Council-run centres whose families face displacement so community-run centres can be rebuilt.
The plot thickened when it was revealed that several currently vacant private childcare centres may not have been thoroughly investigated before the decision to disband the Council centres was made.
Add to this the fact that most Council-run centres are operating at about half capacity while prospective families languish in the uncertainty of lengthy waiting lists.
When all this became apparent, Council voted to defer a decision until 16 September while it pursued federal support and investigated other options.
The key question now is simple: did Council merely talk about federal help, or did it make a formal application for the funding it says it needs?
Smoke, mirrors and unanswered questions
At the last Council meeting, Cr Libby Buckingham asked officers a telling question: “My understanding is that there is a Federal Family Care Grant Scheme, I know Council have advocated, but has Council ever put in a formal application to that Federal grant body?”
The answer was revealing: the Manager Family, Youth and Children took the question on notice. In other words, Council could not say whether a formal application had been made.
So TWiSK asked the obvious follow-up: Is council preparing an application to the federal government to support the decanting of programs in local childcare, or any other work related to the BBP (Building Blocks Partnership)?
In the statement presented in full below, Mayor Makin said: “As outlined in our Council’s recent resolution, I have written to relevant Commonwealth and Victorian Government Ministers and local Members of Parliament to explore whether government funding may be available to support appropriate temporary accommodation arrangements during redevelopment works.”
TWiSK understands local Federal Member Josh Burns facilitated a meeting with very senior Commonwealth officials who advised there may be eligibility for a grant from the Community Care Fund.
But the Mayor’s statement remains silent on whether an application is being prepared.
The second part of our question asked whether Council had ever applied for federal support for early years projects: Has council previously applied to the federal government for funding for the upgrade of the North St Kilda Children’s Centre, or for a similar project in Port Phillip, separate from any lobbying for an election commitment?
Again, as the response shows, the Mayor’s lengthy reply does not answer that question, except to point to support for wages.
Meanwhile, Council has allocated $18M and the State has committed $16.5M, but apart from election-time advocacy, the federal government does not appear to have been formally asked for capital funding.
Advocacy is one thing. A formal application is another.
Given it’s footy finals season, is this the Council equivalent of talking big at training, then not taking a shot at goal when it mattered?
Council’s full response attributed to Port Phillip Council Mayor Alex Makin
“Our Council has been advocating to the Australian Government for support for six childcare infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of five community managed centres and Council’s North St Kilda Children’s Centre, since 2022.
“This advocacy has included engagement with the local federal representative, correspondence and meetings with Commonwealth Ministers, federal election advocacy and requests for funding to be considered through successive Federal Budget processes.
“While we understand that these asks have been supported by the local federal representative in principle, no Commonwealth capital funding commitment or capital funding has been received to date. The Victorian Government has since increased its contribution through the Building Blocks Partnership, reducing, but not eliminating, the remaining funding gap.
“Council has also monitored and assessed Commonwealth grants funding opportunities relating to Early Childhood Education and Care infrastructure. Opportunities have been limited in recent years, with Council’s primary focus being advocacy for greater investment in childcare infrastructure by the Commonwealth Government.
“As outlined in our Council’s recent resolution, I have written to relevant Commonwealth and Victorian Government Ministers and local Members of Parliament to explore whether government funding may be available to support appropriate temporary accommodation arrangements during redevelopment works.
“It should also be noted that Council has successfully accessed the Commonwealth Government’s Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Payment. While this funding has provided some support towards workforce attraction and retention, Council’s participation has required an additional financial contribution from Council. Council elected to make this investment, in addition to paying its childcare educators approximately 20 per cent above market rates, because it recognises the importance of attracting and retaining a high-quality early years workforce.
“This payment, however, does not address the capital funding required to modernise early childhood centres across the City of Port Phillip. We request the federal contribution required to support Port Phillip’s continued investment into early childhood education.
“We are one of the few Victorian councils still providing direct service delivery and support for early childhood education. Port Phillip Council remains strongly committed to children and families in Port Phillip and recognises that access to high-quality early years education and care services is critical to supporting children’s development, family participation and community wellbeing.
“We will continue to advocate for external funding and explore grant opportunities for the investment needed to deliver high-quality early years facilities and services for our community.”
