Catholic Church opens not-for-profit childcare centres

A new not-for-profit childcare centre at Miller is the first of many planned by the Catholic Church, in a move that could cut fees by more than half in a major shake-up of Sydney daycare.

The Catholic Church will open a network of not-for-profit childcare centres that could cut fees by more than half in a major shake-up to Sydney daycare.

Fees for the centres, to be based at existing Catholic schools or on church grounds, would only be charged to cover running costs.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher with Alexia Katsibras (l to r), Hebron Sua, Penina-Maria Salu and Luna Guevara at the opening of St Therese Catholic Pre-school and Long Day Care. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The decision follows the success of two new centres, one at Miller in Sydney’s southwest, which began taking students eight weeks ago and officially opened on Friday, and another at Auburn, in the inner west.

More centres are planned for Austral, Bonnyrigg and Caringbah within the next three years. The church has also hinted at further centres in Canterbury-Bankstown, the inner west, Sydney’s northern suburbs, lower north shore, eastern suburbs, St George and Sutherland.

Sydney parents pay the highest costs in Australia for daycare, with families forking out up to $200 a day.

The first Catholic childcare centre, St Therese Catholic Preschool and Long Day Care in Miller, charges $70 for preschool or long daycare from 8am to 4pm, and $90 for 7am to 6pm.

Megan Tarlinton drives out of her way to take daughter Mikayla, 5, to the Catholic centre. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

According to Megan O’Connell, spokeswoman for parent advocacy group Parenthood, parents will not only benefit from cheap fees but the convenience of one school drop-off for childcare and primary children.

“Parents find it more convenient if they can do one drop-off, so co-location is a real win for parents, provided there’s high-quality, play-based learning,” she said.

“It’s not uncommon to see childcare prices of $130 or $140 a day in metropolitan Sydney, so those (Catholic centre) prices sound cheap.”

Campbelltown mum Megan Tarlinton drives an extra 15 minutes to take her daughter Mikayla, 5, to the Catholic preschool at Miller, which is $20 a day cheaper than her old preschool in ­Leumeah.

“My friends send their kids to centres that charge $120 or $130 and that’s what stops parents sending kids to preschool or childcare,” she said.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher blesses the facility. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Sydney Archdiocese was forced to set up a new arm called Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services separate from Sydney Catholic Schools because primary and high schools receive federal funding while preschools and long day care centres don’t.

The aim is to reduce the financial stress families are facing due to soaring childcare costs, according to SCECS head Franceyn O’Connor.

“Financial circumstances should never be the barrier that limits access to early education,” Mrs O’Connor said.

“This is why it’s vital that we create as many affordable early childcare places as possible for young families in our local parish communities.”