KIDS Individual Day Care Solutions director Kylie Clarke, educator Chelsea Alexander and co-ordinator Chris Daws.
Photo by
Barb Love
Cobram Secondary College has a propensity to ensure it’s not only at the forefront of educational opportunities, but also offering the perfect environment for its teaching staff.
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Earlier in the year, the school, under the leadership of Principal Kimberley Tempest, was presented a 2024 Five-Star Employer of Choice award, recognising the supportive and understanding staff at the school.
And last week, it became the first Victorian school to open a Family Day Care Centre on the school site.
“We discussed the need to retain our teachers after they start a family and to encourage others to come to the school at a time when there is a considerable teacher shortage crisis,” Ms Tempest said.
Being a Family Day Care Centre with positions for just four children, Lily Dunne, a maths teacher at the school, is one of the first mums to enrol her two-year-old daughter.
Educator Chelsea Alexander and two of the precious little people she will look after at the CSC day care.
Photo by
Barb Love
She now can bring her to the school for the day, knowing she is able to pop in at any time to see that she is well and happy.
“It’s about managing a new style of workforce,” Ms Tempest said.
“It’s younger now and more women leave the profession for a period of years to have their family and can be torn emotionally when returning to work and leaving their babies and toddlers each day.
“Having this day care centre, staff mums can feel encouraged to return to work without dealing with separate issues.
“Their child is secure and goes home with them at the end of the day.”
In a three-way partnership, the child care facility has been structured like a typical family day care centre under KIDS Individual Day Care Solutions with director Kylie Clarke, coordinator Chris Daws and educator Chelsea Alexander.
The Victorian Education Department provided a grant of $30,000 and the apprenticeship factory donated $5000 towards its formation.
The result is a bright and cheerful playroom with an abundance of learning activities and toys, a separate room fitted with four cots, a kitchen and a bathroom.
The centre is open from 8.15am to 5.15pm each day, and mums are asked to bring along a lunch-box and drink bottle for their little ones.
The rest is looked after by KIDS Individual Day Care Solutions and the team.
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