Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said communities in Nagambie, Violet Town, Moyhu and Murchison will be disadvantaged by the Gillard Government’s refusal to re-instate Take A Break (TAB) Neighbourhood Model Occasional Care funding.
Federal funding for the program, originally funded on a 70 per cent Commonwealth and 30 per cent State basis, was discontinued in the May 2010 Budget which meant services were due to cease on June 30, 2010.
The former State Government agreed to fund the Federal Government’s share for one year until June 30, 2011. This was a one-off commitment and the former government made it clear that the funding was for one year only.
Speaking in Parliament this week, Dr Sykes said, “The former State Labor Government however brought forward all the funding from the Take A Break 2011-12 year into the 2010-11 year to enable those services to continue for one more year.”
The Baillieu-Ryan Government, on its election, formally requested the Gillard Government to reinstate TAB Occasional Care funding as the program could not be sustained on State funding alone.
Unfortunately the Federal Minister failed to respond to that request, and the 2011-2012 Federal Budget failed to reinstate the program.
“The Baillieu-Ryan Government have extended the program by providing another six months of funding. Services are required to deliver at least three months of the program; they can use the other three months for transitional arrangements.
“This is to assist services in making that transition, but some services will continue to deliver services right through to 31 December.”
Dr Sykes said, “The people who are hurting from the Federal Government’s decision to not fund Take A Break, include the community of Murchison. They are 30 minutes away from long day care and they have one day of occasional day care that is separate from the kinder, so this decision is going to cause great difficulties for young mums and families in Murchison.
“Similarly, at Nagambie the occasional care centre has three staff and runs three days a week in conjunction with the kinder, and it is grinding to a halt because of the failure of the former Brumby Government to do the right thing.
“At both Violet Town and Moyhu we have similar problems that need addressing.”
Dr Sykes said, “The Baillieu-Ryan Government will provide funding until at least 30 September. It is critical that the Federal Government comes on board to honour its commitments and I and my Coalition colleagues will continue to press this point so that the service is retained as it is much appreciated by local families.”

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed the announcement that a Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will provide $6 million over four years for operational grants to help small rural kindergartens.
“The Coalition’s plan will enable small rural kindergartens to apply for operational grants of up to $20,000,” Dr Sykes said.
“Under the Brumby Labor Government, the financial position of small rural kindergartens with limited enrolments has become precarious and these kindergartens struggle with a large gap between government funding and ongoing costs,” Dr Sykes said.
“This has been the experience in the King Valley which has struggled to provide ongoing kindergarten services due to fluctuating numbers that has affected funding.
“Other kindergartens, such as Nagambie and Glenrowan have to meet the gap between government funding and ongoing costs by year round fundraising efforts to keep their kinders open.
“The Coalition will fix this problem by helping small rural kindergartens with a grants program to assist with administrative and operational costs.
“The Coalition believes every child deserves access to a year of kindergarten before school and our funding boost will ensure early childhood services in rural communities are accessible and affordable.
“Our rural families are to be commended on the great job they do in helping to run their local kindergartens but need more assistance. The Coalition’s plan will ensure small kindergartens in rural Victoria can stay open to help children get the best start in life,” Dr Sykes concluded.
There are approximately 79 kindergartens in Victoria classified as small rural and remote.