Reprinted with permission from Strathfield Labor Councillor Facebook page:
Incredible scenes inside and outside Strathfield Council this evening as local families protested against Council’s plans to force local community not-for-profit childcare centres to commercially tender for future leases.
Tina Webster, Director HOOSH spoke passionately about the centre, how the centre helped essential workers) and Council staff’s children during the COVID period. Tina advised that the centre has been operating for over 3 decades and she was notified of council’s intention to tender via a 2 line email!
Luke Symonds, SOCCS Parent Committee President, spoke about the dedication and professionalism of the educators, the amenity of the site and outlined what the centre has meant to his family.
He advised that SOCCS is the only community run daycare. It has 128 local children from 115 linguistically diverse families. Some children attending SOCCS have beem rejected from for-profit centres because of their disabilities, challenging behaviours and additional needs.
Council resolved to negotiate leases with the local not-for-profit centres. A major win for people power.
Jason Yat-sen Li MP
Sally Sitou MP 陈莎莉
Cr Karen Pensabene
#StopPrivatisation
#community