Nightcliff Family Centre Irene Billias dumped after 33 years

A woman who has raised generations of Territory children has been unceremoniously made redundant by a Darwin childcare centre. SEE THE LETTER SENT TO MRS BILLIAS.

A WOMAN who has raised generations of Territory children has been uncere­moniously made redundant by an early childhood education centre for being ­“unqualified”.

Nightcliff Family Centre team leader Irene Billias, who was the NT News’s top child care educator in 2020, was left shocked and shaken when told her role had been made redundant after 33 years with the centre.

Mrs Billias was given the redundancy letter from the committee-run president, Alicia Sherwood, on October 26.

The redundancy letter give to Team Leader Irene Billias on October 26, 2021. Mrs Billias had been in the role for 33 years. Picture: Contributed

The letter, seen by the NT News, told the 68-year-old grandmother she was no longer needed as they ­required a degree-qualified teacher.

The letter said Mrs Billias could stay on with the centre until a “suitable” teacher could be given her job, which she had held since 1988.

When she questioned the redundancy via her union, the offer to stay on in the role was revoked.

“I am absolutely gutted. But this is not about me – this is about the children who I adore that I now leave ­behind,” Mrs Billias said through tears. “The children I have helped raise like my own grandkids.

Irene Billias has been named the NT's favourite childcare educator. She is joined here by Arjun Pushpala, Costa Billias, Marianthi Kotis, and Sevasti Skartados. Picture: Che Chorley

“I have been caring for children for 33 years. How could I be more qualified?

“The children don’t want this, the parents don’t want this, and I don’t know how it helps them.”

Mrs Billias said she understood the need for a mix of suitably qualified positions for accreditation, but was concerned her long career did not merit another position at the centre.

An email sent to parents on November 12, also seen by the NT News, announced Mrs Billias had left the centre, with families told the restructure was to ensure the centre met the national quality regulations by hiring a second qualified early childhood teacher.

The response was immediate, with upset and heartbroken carers replying with their disappointment that the popular staff member had been “booted out”, calling her redundancy unfair.

Emails to Nightcliff Family Centre from upset parents following the redundancy of Team Leader Irene Billias, who had been in the role for 33 years. Picture: Contributed

The centre received so many responses it was forced to ask parents to “refrain from replying to this thread”, and asked carers to contact the committee directly.

United Workers Union Secretary Erina Early said it was an “appalling way to treat one of the most ­respected early educators in the NT”. “The committee deliber­ately excluded how they treated Irene. They should be disgusted with themselves,” Ms Early said.

Mother Renee Kotis said her daughter had not stopped crying and kept asking where “Reenie” was. “We just cannot believe it. Irene is an absolute institution – the rock of the centre and loved by hundreds of children in the Territory,” Ms Kotis said. “To say someone like her is not qualified because of a piece of paper – nor given the opportunity to be put in ­another role – as opposed to her 33 years of taking care of kids is just devastating.”

The Nightcliff Family Centre committee was contacted for comment but said they could not comment on “the confidential matters regarding employment”.

Originally published as Nightcliff Family Centre Irene Billias dumped after 33 years