THE King Island Childcare and Early Learning Centre Inc has had to lifts fees to create more childcare positions and to increase staff. The centre committe has called for donations to support their services and programs.
“The committee is very proud to be continuing the tradition of over 50 years continuous provision of childcare on the island,” centre leader Diane Rawlings said.
“As our community has grown so has the requirement to provide more facilities to support families on the island. “The centre provides an essential service enabling local businesses on the island to encourage working families to come into the community. “Many families call the centre to check childcare availability before accepting employment on King Island. “As a committee run organisation, KICC&ELC Inc is a not-for-profit association, which is quite unique nowadays for such facilities.
“The centre is licensed for 65 positions from the ages of 0-12 years under the auspices of the National Childcare Regulations including the guidelines for staff: children ratios. “Our current level of staffing inhibits our ability to make all these positions available.
“Presently on any given day we can have about 45 children at the centre. We are actively engaged in recruiting new staff to join our team,” Ms Rawlings said. “To support our educational programmes, we are calling for suitable donations to continue our provision of our services.
“Currently, we are funded through childcare fees and support from CCCF Sustainability Fund and Capital Funding.
“We have been recently advised by CCCF that we need to increase our childcare fees to remain financially viable. We have been successful in applying for a wide number of grants to enhance our learning environments and Educational Programmes.
“Our business is run with passion and dedication to support families in our unique community, to ensure the well -being, education, and development of all children – who are our future.
“The saying goes ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and we continue to assist all families on King Island. “I would like to thank everyone for all your help and support and to let you know that – we will not be closing.”
If any further details are required regarding fees, employment and donations to support our programs, please contact the Centre on 03 6462 1268 or email manager@kingislandchildcare.com