Child-care Fears As More Centres Falter
Illawarra Mercury
Friday November 21, 2008
FOR the third time in under two years, Wilbur child-care centres, and their owner Rebecca Hindson, have made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Last year the centre's head office was raided by Australian Federal Police and the Federal Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs officers.At the same time unions were taking action over unpaid wages and superannuation to workers.Last month Ms Hindson, Hindson and Carberry P/L and Hindsons Preschools P/L, faced allegations of 44 breaches of their children's services licence in Wollongong Local Court.No plea has been entered at this stage, with the matter due back in court on November 27.Yesterday it was revealed two of Ms Hindson's companies - Hindson and Carberry and Hindsons Preschools - had been forced into receivership by unpaid loans.Taylor Woodings partner Matt Adams was appointed receiver and manager by the Bank of Western Australia.No details about the amount of money owed were released.About 150 children attend the centres controlled by the two companies: Wilbur Dolphin, Wilbur Duckling, Wilbur Whale, Wilbur Bear, Wilbur Turtle and Wilbur Butterfly.Wilbur centres at Kanahooka and Albion Park Rail were not run by the companies now under administration.Mr Adams assured parents the centres would continue to operate as usual with no intention to close them."We're trading them with a view to sell," he said."We're working with the relevant government agencies and unions."Some workers who were pursuing unpaid wages and superannuation were paid in the last 18 months, however others with unpaid claims now face uncertainty about whether they will see the money owed to them.Jenna Hamilton, who worked at several Wilbur centres over more than two years, said she is still owed $3443 in unpaid wages and more in unpaid superannuation."Sometimes it would be five weeks at a time I wouldn't get paid," she said.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury