THERE might still be hope for Horsham’s only after-school care and vacation care program, after Horsham Rural City Council stepped in to try to save the service.
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On Friday, Wimmera Uniting Care announced its program was unable to secure a premises and would close at the end of term four, with September’s school holiday program its last.
Wimmera Uniting Care chief executive Wendy Sturgess said it was disappointing to close the program after 15 years.
The announcement caused outrage among working parents, with one single mother and professional accountant telling the Mail-Times it was unacceptable and she would have to consider moving if a solution wasn’t found.
Council chief executive Peter Brown said the program was vital to Horsham and council would work with parties to try to ensure it survived.
He said the program was an important part of the community and economy.
“Council is very disappointed and I know the community will be very disappointed too,” he said.
“There are really important social reasons why we need the program, but there are also good economic development reasons to have program.
“It allows maximum work force participation in the Wimmera, a good diverse workforce needs programs like this.”
On Friday, Ms Strugess said Wimmera Uniting Care had done everything it could to keep the after-school and vacation programs alive.
“We approached a number of Horsham schools and asked parents to advocate at a school level but we had no success whatsoever,” she said.
Mr Brown said council staff would be contacting both Wimmera Uniting Care and principals at Horsham schools to see what could be done about finding the program a new home.
He said conversations would happen over the next few days.
“We’re seeing what can be done,” he said.
“The thing I want to emphasis is that this is a vital service for the community.
“We do need to find a way for it to continue.”
Mr Brown said for working families and professionals the service was a key support that allows them a career.
Mr Brown said the after-school care and vacation care program was one part of a whole gambit of childcare services needed to support professional parents in the community.