Call For Fair System Of Care Costs

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday May 6, 2008

By FRANCES THOMPSON

KURRI Kurri Preschool director Jannelle Gallagher's story of child care in the Lower Hunter was enough to attract the eye of new federal MP Maxine McKew.

The parliamentary secretary for early childhood education and child care, Ms McKew visited the centre yesterday after Ms Gallagher wrote to her to ask for a fairer system of costs in the sector.

"She listened and took a lot of stuff on board," Ms Gallagher said.

Her letter to Ms McKew highlighted the situation of the Coleman family, who were unable to afford the special needs services for children provided at the Kurri centre.

The centre raised money to pay for Carly Coleman's son, Albert, to attend and use the centre's speech therapist.

Ms Gallagher said Kurri was identified in a recent study as being a disadvantaged area but because the centre was run under NSW Government rules fees were more expensive than others funded by the Federal Government.

Ms Gallagher said she would like to have the skills and staff to run the centre more like a business and plough money earned back into operations.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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