Some hope for Ballina shire vacation care services

CHILD-care worker Penny Williams hates the thought of kids being left at home alone or parents losing their jobs because there is no care available.

So the Ballina District Community Services Association employee, along with executive officer Dianna Howell and other members, will provide two weeks of vacation care for local kids in the Christmas school holidays.

The association has said its out-of-school care services at Ballina, Wollongbar, Alstonville and Lennox Head will close in December, after revealing they have lost more than $90,000.

“Some parents have said they will lose their jobs or their kids will have to stay at home alone if we don't run our vacation care service in the holidays,” Ms Williams said.

“So we have decided to hold limited vacation care services in Ballina and Wollongbar next January, to help make it easier for families.”

Ms Howell said it was difficult to look after the needs of families and run the service like a business, but the aim was to run the vacation care service without losses.

“We just want to break even,” she said.

BDCSA is still calling for a service provider to take over the running of the child-care services.

The organisation has not had any solid offers but Ms Howell said she had been encouraged by the 'generous bailout' of ABC Learning Centres by the Federal Government last week.

BDCSA had requested $145,000 from the Federal Government to help fund the losses, and the organisation was still in negotiations with government representatives.