The university announced plans to terminate the leases of four on-campus childcare centres earlier this year, throwing families into a spin. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Two of the existing childcare centres at the Australian National University (ANU) are being given first dibs on operating brand-new facilities, after heavy lobbying from parents, staff members and Federal politicians.
On 12 June, the ANU announced plans to demolish several heritage cottages in the Acton Conservation Precinct and terminate the leases of the four childcare centres inside. These include the University Preschool and Child Care Centre (UPCCC), Acton Early Child Care, Cubby House on Campus and Heritage Early Childhood Centre, with a combined total of 85 staff members and more than 200 enrolments.
The ANU said it had spent $1 million on 240 repair jobs to the cottages over the past year, including removing asbestos and lead paint, which had disrupted the “provision of high-quality childcare”.
Meanwhile, it had spent about $8 million on two new purpose-built buildings nearby. These would become home to two new childcare providers from January 2025.
“Due to the age of these buildings and the ongoing work required to remediate hail damage and ensure the buildings meet our high standards, the university has explored options to help us provide the best, uninterrupted childcare services for ANU families in the future,” ANU CEO Christopher Price wrote to families and staff members in a letter.
The news left parents with children, either enrolled or on 18-month to two-year waitlists, stunned.
“Finding good childcare is hard enough, and without warning, ANU is pulling the rug from underneath hundreds of families – their own staff, too,” a staff member told Region.
“Where else are people supposed to apply for? … I have been on the UPCCC waitlist since I was 10 weeks pregnant to try and get a spot. Now there is no certainty I can get in anywhere else,” said another.
Parents, staff and children from the ANU’s four childcare centres arranged a protest in early July. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The Parent Community of UPCCC formed protests and launched an online petition, arguing any commercial tender process would “disadvantage our beloved smaller, parent-led, not-for-profit centres”.
“We urge that ANU prioritise the continuity of high-quality care and learning that children are currently receiving across the four centres,” the petition read.
As of today (23 July), it had attracted 5273 signatures.
Canberra senators David Pocock, Katy Gallagher and Alicia Payne – along with ACT Early Childhood Development Minister Yvette Berry – then added federal pressure when they joined a protest on the lawns of Parliament House earlier this month.
The ANU’s goal was to reach an agreement by 23 July, but the politicians argued it should allow more time for the four childcare centres to draft tender proposals.
An update from ANU Interim CEO Jonathan Churchill on 10 July said the ANU had held “multiple meetings and positive conversations with all the community providers” on draft proposals.
The latest update is a joint statement from all four existing childcare providers and the ANU, released on 23 July.
It reveals the ANU has entered into “exclusive conversations” with UPCCC and Heritage about the continued running of on-campus childcare.
The university has knocked back proposals by the Acton Early Childhood Centre (AECC) and Cubby House centres as “not feasible” but promises to delay the tender process while it remains in talks with UPCCC and Heritage.
ACT and federal politicians weighed in on the issue surrounding the ANU and the community childcare providers. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
“ANU has received proposals from the UPCCC and Heritage to deliver high-quality childcare in two brand-new facilities on the university’s campus from January 2025,” the statement reads.
“Both proposals have also received letters of support from Acton Early Childhood Centre (AECC) and Cubby House on Campus.”
The ANU conducted tours of the new facilities for families on 18 and 19 July and plans to hold further tours on 24 and 26 July.
A spokesperson told Region the university wasn’t in a position to comment on when the process would be complete, but families in the four current centres would be informed “as soon as the final terms of the agreements with UPCCC and Heritage are reached”.
It’s understood both proposals include a commitment for staff from AECC and Cubby to be offered roles with UPCCC and Heritage.
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