Parents and Community Members, Help me save this small business that supports our children from closing its doors!

Summary:

Our local community nature program that supports child and adult wellbeing through beautiful nature immersion is at threat of closing its doors due to financial burdens being placed on them. The local council is intent on misclassifying this business and the costs are piling up! This will be a devastating loss to many parents and the community as a whole. Please Read on for more information. 

BACKGROUND:

My child, like many others, struggled to fit the mould of a "typical" child within traditional classrooms. She found it challenging to sit still for hours on end and faced social and emotional difficulties. I knew she needed something to support her specific needs.

Luckily, we discovered Birdwings Forest School - a nature program that has been life-changing for us as a family. Birdwings Forest School provide crucial support for children and adults by providing nature play, adventure play and wellbeing support. The very support many children require and benefit from, and yet cannot access readily in more traditional settings.

THE ISSUE:

The development application for the beautiful site is at a point that could make or break this business. The Gold Coast City Council has classified the business as a “childcare center”, which is not an accurate reflection of the nature-connection programs, and whilst the work is with children the key differences are:

• they do not operate as a childcare center
• have no buildings or infrastructure
• have minimal environmental impact on our site, and;
• contribute significantly to conservation and environmental education through core work with children and the community.

This classification will incur significant financial costs in administration fees and environmental reports, which are beyond the means of a small business. This expense will prevent us from offering essential nature connection programs.

They are seeking the reclassification as an Environmental Facility to more accurately describe the work as providers of therapeutic nature connection for children, families and community. Changing the classification to list this site as an Environmental Facility will allow Birdwings Forest School to continue programs on the current site and promote the importance of nature connection programs for our children and set a precedent for such programs like ours, nationwide.

If the classification is not changed, Birdwings Forest School will lose their home base, a site they have been caring for and conducting environmental work on over a number of years. Without a home base, many of Birdwings core programs will not be able to be offered, and children and families will lose their access to nature.

WHAT BIRDWINGS IS REALLY ABOUT

Birdwings Forest School is an Award-winning program held in open outdoor settings similar to other nature connection operations. 

Our children and community get to learn how to look after their surroundings better, in a much more environmentally aware manner. All the programs offered here allow families to understand and be involved in restorative and enhancement programs in the Guanaba area (eg: Creek riparian zones, Koala habitat, habitat of Richmond birdwing butterfly).

Our children get to have hands-on learning opportunities, and this not only has improved our connection to land but also deepened our connection to self, improving our health and resilience. What we get to experience at Birdwings is very special to us and we simply cannot sit back and risk losing this invaluable program.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR:

We will be writing to Council to advise that Birdwings Forest School plays an essential role in our community and provides services that are not elsewhere available and for its correct classification, which is not a childcare centre!

Please sign this petition in support of the Council reclassifying this program to its correct status and show the Gold Coast City Council how much we as a community value this program.