SAVE DEVONSHIRE STREET EARLY EDUCATION CENTRE WILLOUGHBY’S ONLY COUNCIL-RUN CHILDCARE

The Willoughby community and the USU say don’t sell off Devonshire Street Children’s Centre! The Devonshire Street Childcare Centre in Chatswood has been owned and operated by Willoughby City Council for over 35 years.

Members and community share concerns at public forum

On April 26, around 250 early educators, families and wider community members raised their concerns about the sell-off to an audience of Councillors and council management at the public forum.

Councillors heard what privatisation would mean for the centre’s educators and the families, and they were urged to reverse the decision!

What’s at stake

Selling off our Childcare will mean shareholders make decisions about our children based on profit, and the Early Childhood Educators won’t have the same job protections.

Hear USU Organiser Thomas Gao speaking on the issue on 2GB:

What Council-run Early Childcare Centres mean

• Centres are not-for-profit and income is reinvested into the services, meaning the highest quality education and care is provided to our children.
• The Early Childhood Educators are employed by Council. Their good working conditions flow into the quality of care provided, allowing the centres to go beyond the National Quality Standard, have staffing levels above licensing requirements, and provide a learning environment that is inclusive of diverse cultural backgrounds and abilities.

What can you do to help save Devonshire Street?
Hundreds have already signed the petition for Council to reverse their decision, add your name here: Sign the petition.

For more information or to get involved in the campaign: Contact USU Organiser Thomas Gao at tgao@usu.org.au or on 0419 761 325.