By Anna W
The Western Bulldogs Football Club has undergone a significant shift in its leasing arrangements for childcare operations at the Whitten Oval site, changing its lease agreement from a not-for-profit community model to a for-profit structure. The club’s decision, which has received support from the Maribyrnong City Council, including Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari, has sparked controversy in the community. Parents and supporters have voiced concerns that the decision may lead to a decline in care quality and affordability for local families.
The tender process for the childcare centre’s lease is now underway, with for-profit centres now being able to compete. The local childcare community has expressed strong opposition to the centre’s potential privatisation and the introduction of the tender process, labelling it as unfair. One local parent commented “it is hard to see how our childcare centre can compete with a for-profit centre. It is disappointing that a community-focussed club like the Western Bulldogs is driving this change. The educators here put so much of their time into supporting our kids – even in their own time. It will be devastating if our childcare community is upended.”
In an environment where media reports have exposed the cost-cutting nature of for-profit centres, and how the bottom-line can drive sub-standard care, it is now more important than ever to rally behind community-focussed childcare centres. The support the centre has received from parents and concerned Maribyrnong City Council citizens is a testament to the diligent work by the Centre’s staff.
A petition is currently underway to support keeping the centre in the hands of not-for-profits: https://chng.it/dWxZPWnSfT
