Irene Billias: Former Nightcliff Family Centre worker reveals how she was made redundant

Irene Billias has detailed exactly what happened when she was made redundant from a Nightcliff childcare centre.

UPDATE: Irene Billias has described the moment she was unceremoniously made redundant at Nightcliff Family Centre.

Mrs Billias described the treatment as “disgusting” after receiving a letter detailing the end of her tenure.

“It was disgusting what they did,” she told the NT News.

“They didn’t have the nerve or the guts to face me — I was handed that piece of letter and that was it.”

Mrs Billias said she didn’t have any notice that the redundancy letter was coming and wasn’t offered a support person or witness in the room when she was told.

She said the way it was handled was unexpected.

“It was a shock to me.

“(I was given) a piece of paper, like take that you’re made redundant,” she said.

“What does that mean? After 33 years in the job?”

Mrs Billias also recalled her colleagues’ reactions when she told them the news.

“I said: ‘Excuse me, ladies, but I’ve just been made redundant.’ So half of them thought it was a joke, some started crying. Half of them said no, we’re going to go on strike,” she said.

“My colleagues that work there, they’re beside themselves they cannot believe it — the staff aren’t happy the way it went down.”

A representative of the Nightcliff Family Centre committee were contacted but said they couldn’t comment on the matter.

EARLIER: BELOVED veteran childcare worker Irene Billias says she has received “multiple” job ­offers in the wake of her unceremonious redundancy from Nightcliff Family Centre after 33 years of service.

Ms Billias, along with parents of former NFC early learners, was left shocked after the centre handed the 68-year-old a ­redundancy letter without warning for being “unqualified”.

The NT News’ top child care educator in 2020 revealed one of her prospective employers was so confident in her abilities they told her she need not provide any references. “I have had offers (including in Nightcliff, the NT News has been told) and you could understand how – I’ve been in the Territory (for years) and I’ve been in this field for 33 years,” she said.

“I knew anyone would take me. I just have to say, ‘yes’.”

Ms Billias said her former colleagues had told her the centre had become a “depressing place” without her and many had expressed their disbelief over NFC’s actions. The childcare stalwart said she had ­received dozens of flowers from former colleagues and parents of her students since her ­“ordeal” started in late October.

Multiple family generations have passed through the centre under Ms Billias’ watch as a second-in-charge.

Now – the NT News has been told – parents with children at NFC are considering taking their children out of the centre because of Ms Billias’ move, which has been slammed by the United Workers Union.

NFC committee president Alicia Sherwood, who worked as an “external relations manager” for seven years, could not be reached for comment.

It comes after she was inundated with support from the community following her dismissal from Nightcliff Family Centre.

Mrs Billias was let go after 33 years at the childcare centre, to be replaced with a “degree-qualified” teacher.

She told the NT News she had already been contacted by a number of other childcare centres in Darwin.

“I’m obviously devastated about the situation, but it’s been incredibly heartwarming to have had so many messages of support,” she said.

“I’m overwhelmed and cannot thank everyone enough for their love.”

Meanwhile, parents of former attendees of Nightcliff Family Centre have expressed their disappointment at the dismissal of the childcare centre stalwart.

Amiee Tagell was looked after by Mrs Billias and sent two of her children there because of the bond she shared with “Ireenie”.

Now she’s not sure what to do with her third child.

“It’s unsettling and I have thought about taking the kids out of the centre because the way they went about it,” she said.

“I was absolutely devastated — I couldn’t believe it, never thought I’d see the day when Irene was let go.”

Mother of three Chloe O’Ceannéidigh said she joined a two-year waitlist just for her kids to be looked after by Mrs Billias.

“At the time I felt safer leaving them with her than anyone else,” she said.

“I had never left them before and no one had watched them since that’s how much I trusted her.

“She was the main reason I went back to work because for the first time I actually wanted the kids with her,” she said.

Her sister sent her daughter there for the same reason and said many other parents would be in the same boat.

“It was the most sought after childcare in the Northern Territory for many years because of the way that she loved and treated children.”

“You will find many stories like mine — she is one of those people that you just try to get your kids in with because you know they’re gonna get lots of love,” she said.

Speaking to Mix 104.9 yesterday morning, former director of Nightcliff Family Centre Pam Zagami said she was “astonished” when she found out they were letting Mrs Billias go.

“I was flabbergasted,” she said.

“It’s literally what Irene was made to do — to not allow her to do that is so sad,” she said.

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

Originally published as Irene Billias: Former Nightcliff Family Centre worker reveals how she was made redundant