Indigo Shire Council have released their agenda for next Tuesday’s council meeting, which includes the recommendation of the Beechworth Childcare and Kinder Centre Expression of Interest (EOI). Unfortunately, BCEYLC has not been recommended as the preferred applicant. This would mean that our service would not continue beyond this year, as we would have no premises to operate from.

We submitted a comprehensive and detailed EOI application outlining a plan to expand and fully utilise the centre to meet critical childcare demands, while maintaining high quality care and education to the children of our community. We are shocked and bitterly disappointed to not be recommended as the preferred provider.

The agenda and recommendations were released at 2pm on 20 March, and Alpine Children’s Services has been recommended as the preferred applicant. From our initial read of the report, the reasons provided are not adequate to justify a change of service provider and the subsequent instability for families.

Councillors will be asked to endorse the recommendation at the council meeting, 6.30pm on Tuesday 25th March. We are hoping that they do not accept this recommendation, and will consider BCEYLC as the preferred provider in order for us to continue providing care and early years education for our community.

We want to understand how this decision was made, and get more information, so that we can continue to support our families and staff. We will be attending the council meeting to ask for more information about the decision making process, and what support the council will provide the community if we are forced to vacate the space. We understand how deeply unsettling this uncertainty is. We ask you to show your support to the centre by advocating for the continued operation of this strong, safe, community owned service which has operated for 26+ years.

As part of the EOI guidelines, we are unable to advocate directly to Councillors or Council staff, and we look to our families and community to be our voice.

Please read on to understand what this means for our community and what you can do to help.

What this might mean for our community

We are concerned that this recommendation has been made without any community consultation, and without consideration of community needs.

We are worried that it may be difficult to attract and retain staff for the remainder of 2025 if we cannot offer ongoing employment.

We are uncertain whether existing and wait list families will be given preference for 2026.

We know little about the vetting process that has been undertaken on the recommended service; but we know with absolute certainty that BCEYLC can continue to offer a consistent, reliable, safe, and quality service for our community.