October 23rd 2024.
When Melanie Cooke received an email from her children's daycare on a Friday afternoon, she didn't think much of it. After all, she assumed it could wait until Monday. However, when she woke up the next morning, she was overwhelmed with angry and panicked messages from other parents who also relied on the daycare in Woy Woy, located on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Curious, Cooke clicked into the email and was shocked to discover that Peninsula Long Day Care, where her two children were enrolled five days a week, would be closing its doors on Monday, October 21st. The attached letter from Stephanie Wallace, Executive Officer at Coast Community Connections, explained that due to unforeseen circumstances, the long day care services for children aged zero to five would cease immediately and any fees paid in advance would be refunded.
This news came as a shock to Cooke and the 41 other families who relied on the daycare. They had only been given a two-hour notice before the daycare closed on Friday. Cooke described the situation as "unethical" and "deplorable," and expressed her frustration with the lack of explanation from the daycare's management.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the daycare through phone and email, Cooke and other parents received no response. This left tens of families on the Central Coast without childcare for their young children, with waitlists of up to two years for other providers in the area. Cooke and her husband, who both work full time, were lucky enough to have family support to help with their children, but other families were not as fortunate.
Cooke reached out to other daycare providers in the area, but most were already full for the next few years. The only option for some families would be to travel to providers in other areas, which would be a financial burden. Cooke and her husband were faced with the difficult decision of potentially reducing their working hours to care for their children.
In a follow-up email, Coast Community Connections promised refunds and apologized for the impact the sudden closure had on families. They also stated that they were working with the Department of Education to explore options for families affected by the closure.
The Department of Education confirmed that they were aware of the situation and were making enquiries about the circumstances surrounding the closure. They also encouraged anyone with concerns or complaints to contact them.
Cooke spent the next few days trying to find a solution for the 42 families affected by the closure. She started a petition to save the daycare service, which gained about 800 signatures, and even attended a demonstration outside the daycare.
The parents were understandably upset and stressed about the sudden closure. Cooke described the situation as causing sleepless nights and panic attacks for some families. She questioned what they were supposed to do in this difficult situation.
9news reached out to Coast Community Connections for comment, but has not yet received a response. In an interview with Coast Community News, Coast Community Connections Chairperson Sharryn Brownlee explained that this was the only option for the organization to remain viable. She also revealed plans to expand their early learning centers across the Central Coast.
The sudden closure of Peninsula Long Day Care has left many families in a tough spot, with no immediate solution in sight. Cooke and other parents are still fighting for answers and a resolution to this unexpected and troubling situation.
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