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Bringing Children Together In Cowes

The Cowes Children’s Services Working Party is seeking to locate all children’s services in the one location.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 27th March 2007 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire’s Cr Peter Paul said that there was plenty of enthusiasm from the 20 people who attended a recent community forum in Cowes to discuss the future of children’s services.

"People are genuinely proud of the existing children’s services we have at the Phillip Island Kindergarten, Kids’ House, Bass Coast Community Health and Cowes Primary School," Cr Paul said.

"Each of these organisations provide terrific services that are highly valued by our community.

"Bringing these services together to operate from the one location will offer many more advantages."

People at the forum and those on the working party have identified some fragmentation in services that can be corrected by services working together.

Bass Coast Shire Council’s Sally Paech is the Project Officer ensuring that everyone has an opportunity for input into the future of children’s services on Phillip Island.

"The service providers are not in it to make money," Ms Paech said.

"They all want to make sure that the best possible services are available and accessible to our community.

"Children’s services are heavily regulated so there is much to gain by streamlining services, gaining some economies of scale and working together."

Further community forums will be held on Wednesday April 11 at the Cowes Cultural Centre. One forum is at 10am. The other is at 2pm.

"Anyone with children aged up to eight years will benefit in attending one of these sessions," Ms Paech said.

"They will go for one hour only. It’s a great way to have a say or just to find out what’s being planned."

Bass Coast Shire Council will also consult directly with the staff and committee members of the Phillip Island Kindergarten, Kids’ House and Bass Coast Community Health Services. Educational consultant, Kathy Walker will do this on behalf of the Council.

The Working Party aims to make formal recommendations on the future of children’s services in Cowes for Council to consider in September.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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