Parents hope share market won't steal their centre: [N Canberra Edition]
John Stapleton, Additional reporting: AAP. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 28 Feb 2008: 6.
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"We worry about what could happen," she said. "We are working parents and we need placements. It is hard to find one you like."
Michelle Mudge, 27, a financial analyst, said her four-year-old son Jeremy loved the centre and she was optimistic about ABC's future. "I am not that concerned about the centres closing, the stock market is so volatile," she said. "I take it all with a grain of salt. I don't think it will filter down to this level.
Marketing consultant Natasha Lisle, 35, who was picking up her two-year-old daughter Madeleine, said she didn't believe the share market problems of the parent company would affect "this level of childcare services".
THE parents using the ABC childcare centre in Edward Street, North Sydney speak with one voice -- they love their centre and so do their children.
They all say it is well run, the staff are great and their children are happy.
Most of the mums and dads who use the centre, many of them two- income families who invest in shares, think the stock market is so volatile that the company may well right itself.
If not, most believe the childcare centres themselves will stay open whatever the company's stock market turmoil.
The centre caters for children from six weeks to five years old, and provides nursery, toddler and preschool programs.
Parents pay up to $92 a day depending on the age of the child.
Architect Vicky van Dyjk who has daughters, Zoe, 3, and Jade, 1, at the centre, said she'd be devastated if it closed.
ABC had taken over from an independent childcare centre and had invested a great deal of money in improving safety and services.
"We worry about what could happen," she said. "We are working parents and we need placements. It is hard to find one you like."
Michelle Mudge, 27, a financial analyst, said her four-year-old son Jeremy loved the centre and she was optimistic about ABC's future. "I am not that concerned about the centres closing, the stock market is so volatile," she said. "I take it all with a grain of salt. I don't think it will filter down to this level.
"Childcare is extremely important to me -- without it I wouldn't be able to work."
She said she had no concerns about having her son in childcare. He was happy, well adjusted and more socially advanced than children who were not in care.
"I want to work, I can't imagine just staying at home, I need my mind to stay active."
Marketing consultant Natasha Lisle, 35, who was picking up her two-year-old daughter Madeleine, said she didn't believe the share market problems of the parent company would affect "this level of childcare services".
"It is a great centre, I have to say, it is fabulous," she said.
"I have two kids, we really need the centre, definitely."
Federal Families Minister Jenny Macklin yesterday said childcare places must be protected as ABC faced financial turmoil.
The Government was aware of the ABC situation and was talking about it "internally".
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