UnitingCare Gippsland (formerly Kilmany UnitingCare) has been working with a Community Reference Group and Prom Coast Children’s Services (PCCS) over the past few months to transition the operation of the Toora, Welshpool, Fish Creek and Foster kindergartens from PCCS to UnitingCare Gippsland.
The transition is expected to officially take place from January 1, 2010 in time for the beginning of the 2011 kindergarten program.
UnitingCare Gippsland’s Director Performance and Innovation Tracey Gibson said, “It’s our intention to provide the same fantastic level of service in the Corner Inlet Kindergartens that the community has come to know and expect.
“A seamless transition is expected, and the community can feel very confident that it will be business as usual for the kindergarten programs.
“All four kindergartens will become part of a new hub of services operating in the Corner Inlet area.”
The Community Reference Group is working with the Murdoch Children’s Research Centre – Centre for Community Child Health (Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne) to develop the governance and integrated service model for the new Corner Inlet Children’s Hub in Foster.
Ms Gibson praised the Research Centre for its evidence-based, international and practical experience in setting up successful Children’s Hubs.
At the same time, she expects other communities in Australia will be following the process taken at Corner Inlet Children’s Hub as a positive example to follow.
Kindergarten and child care
Foster Kindergarten will move into the new Hub in Pioneer Street in mid-2011.
The building will also house a new 30-place child care centre and be the new home for the Maternal and Child Health Service.
Other family and community services relevant to families will be incorporated into the Hub over time.
Family Day Care will continue to operate in other locations in the Corner Inlet area to encourage a range of child care options for parents and UnitingCare is continuing to recruit carers in the area.
Enrolments for kindergarten programs are now open and information sessions for parents will be conducted at each kindergarten during November and December. Information about UnitingCare Gippsland and parent handbooks for each service will be available during the information sessions.
Expressions of interest are also being taken for the child care service and expression of interest forms can be obtained through each of the Kindergartens, Maternal and Child Health Service, UnitingCare Gippsland offices and local post offices.
For further information, please contact Uniting Care Gippsland’s Leongatha office for further information on 5662 5150 or by calling in at 3 Church Street, Leongatha.
Meanwhile at the construction site the steady building progress has continued.
The Hub roof is on and windows have been installed.
Inside, electricians and heating/cooling tradesmen are now busy.
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