Belmont parents fight to keep kinder open

Angry Belmont parents say a church’s decision to close a kinder means families will be stung financially.

Parents are protesting at plans to close Alexander Thomson Uniting Kindergarten. Picture: Alan Barber

Belmont parents are fighting to save a free kindergarten, as the church behind the service looks to transform it into a daycare that families would have to pay for.

The Belmont Uniting Church congregation announced in February it would be closing Alexander Thomson Uniting Kindergarten from December 2025, with plans to replace it with a long daycare centre.

Alexander Thomson Kindergarten Committee treasurer Megan Linklater said the announcement came out of the blue for parents like her

“We need the community to stand up and say this isn‘t good enough, a long daycare is not the solution,” she said.

“It’s a lucrative solution for the church but not what the community needs.

“There was no community consultation.”

Erica Carew and Harper. Picture: Alan Barber

Erica Carew, whose three-year-old daughter Harper attends the kinder, said she was disappointed by the closure.

“Our kids can attend kinder essentially for free and soon that won’t be available,” she said.

“You might have kids starting school with limited education because families can’t afford it and I don’t think that’s fair.”

In June parents launched a petition which has already garnered over 500 signatures.

Ms Linklater said the petition was appealing to the Uniting Church to reverse its decision to close the kindergarten, or for Geelong council to provide an alternative venue in the same pocket of Belmont.

As one of three sessional kindergartens in the area, Alexander Thomson Uniting Kindergarten currently offers 126 fully-funded places.

A Uniting Church Australia spokeswoman said the church was planning to rebuild a new kindergarten at the site with improved facilities after it closed, but did not specify if it would be fully-funded.

The spokeswoman said the church’s existing building was developed in the 1950s and was no longer viable.

“The transition to a new kindergarten building is not proposed for construction until January 2026 following the necessary approvals,” she said.

“The new kindergarten will increase the number of placements to that presently available.

The Belmont kinder. Picture: Alan Barber

“Whilst there may still be some misunderstandings to the proposed improvements to a new kindergarten building, the kindergarten program remains government funded and is operated by a qualified teacher approved by the Department of Education.”

Ms Linklater said a long daycare facility would cost too much for many people and not meet the needs of the community.

“Even with the government subsidy it’s just not cost-effective, families will be significantly out of pocket,” she said.

“We’ve reached out to council, the Department of Education and to MPs, but despite the fact that they’ve been understanding no one has helped us find a practical solution.”

City of Greater Geelong executive director city life Anthony Basford said the closure of the Uniting kindergarten was unfortunate and wound create higher demand in the Belmont area.

“Although we have no current plans to build extra kinders in Belmont, we are working with the Department of Education to plan for more services in the areas of greatest need,” he said.

The department has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Belmont parents fight to keep kinder open