Council seeking EOIs to continue Birralee Child Care Centre operations
Published 12 October 2020
Moreton Bay Regional Council is seeking expressions of interest from non-profit early childhood education providers to assume the governance and management of Birralee Child Care Centre in Ferny Hills.
Serving the needs of local families for 43 years, Birralee has built an excellent reputation in the industry for providing high-quality, community-based early childhood education and care.
“If you’ve worked in the child care sector then you’re well aware that it’s a dynamic, everchanging and heavily regulated sector,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.
“Council’s structures are simply not set up in ways that best support this type of service.
“We want to make sure that the service continues to grow and diversify in-line with industry trends.
“While common in the 1980s, the direct governance and management of child care centres by local governments is not as common today.
“In fact, we’re the only major local government in South East Queensland still directly delivering child care services.
“So we’re on the hunt for a reputable non-profit child care specialist to take Birralee into its next chapter.
“We are hopeful that the EOI process will identify a provider to continue the legacy of high-quality services that our community has come to expect from the Birralee team.”
Councillor Matt Constance (Div 10) said the Birralee child care service would remain a focal point of the Ferny Hills community.
“Birralee is home to many great memories for many generations of local families, who have watched their children grow, learn and play there for 43 years,” he said.
“Council’s decision to seek a community partner for the service will help ensure the viability and long-term future of the Birralee community.
“It’s very important that the community-based status and ethos remains, and the continuity of high-quality services to the service’s 91 customers is not negatively impacted.
“We’ll be doing everything within our power to make the transition from Council’s governance and management to a new provider as seamless as possible.
“I’d like to thank Birralee staff for their continued dedication, professionalism and nurturing care of our community.
“The success of the centre, including it’s 100% occupancy rate and ‘Exceeding’ National Quality Rating, is in no small part a result of their contributions.
“Our intention is to work with a new provider to get the best possible transition outcome for all of the Birralee community.”
For more information about the EOI process, contact Council’s call centre on 3205 0555.