Mildura Rural City Council has marked the end of a long and significant chapter in its history, following the difficult decision to transition out of the direct delivery of Playalong and Family Day Care Services.
Councillors last week endorsed a recommendation to transition out of these two services, while committing to continue supporting children to have the best start to life through other early years initiatives and partnerships.
There will be no immediate changes to the services families are currently receiving.
As part of the decision, a transition plan has been established to support families who use Playalong and Family Day Services to secure alternative arrangements with other providers, ensuring continuity of care for local families.
Both services were established in the late 1970s, during a period of strong community advocacy for universally accessible childcare to enable women to enter the workforce.
Council opened Playalong in 1978, making it one of Mildura’s first childcare centres, followed by the establishment of Family Day Care a year later.
Demand for these services grew steadily, peaking in the 1990s when Family Day Care supported more than 800 children each week, with more than 130 contracted carers.
Since that time, the early years sector has changed significantly, with a growing number of private providers now operating in the region.
