B4KIDS TAKES CARE OF DEFENCE KIDS

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, has today announced that a new contract has been signed for management of the 21 owned and leased Defence Child Care Centres.

Mr Snowdon said he is confident the new contract will provide families with stable, high-quality child care.

“Our 21 owned and leased centres will be under the management of an experienced and skilled organisation with a focus on meeting the needs of our Defence families,” Mr Snowdon said.

The new contractor is B4Kids Pty Ltd (B4Kids) – a team with over ten years’ experience in the management of corporate child care programs, with previous clients including Westpac, ANZ, Tyco, and Optus.  Since 2007, B4Kids have been engaged as independent contractors to manage the Defence contract between ABC and Defence, and since October 2008 it has been managing the contract on behalf of the receivers.

“I have every expectation that families using the centres will not notice any disruptions in service, and that the quality and consistency of the care our families receive increases under the new management arrangements.”

B4Kids will take over the management of the Defence Child Care Centres on Monday, 18 May 2009.  This new contract brings to an end a very difficult period for the users of centres in the Defence Child Care Program.

“I would like to thank the families who have stuck by us through this time of uncertainty,” Mr Snowdon said.

“We always said that we would keep the Defence centres open and functional, and today we are able to announce to families that we have kept this promise.

“In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Court-appointed Receivers announced today that new operators have been found for the five centres where Defence children have priority access.  The further 15 centres, under the ABC1 banner, will also continue operate as usual.”

Families may wish to attend information sessions that are being held around the country in the coming weeks, or seek updates on the Defence Community Organisation’s website:  http://www.defence.gov.au/dco.

Media contacts:

Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):           02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689

Defence Media Liaison:                         02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664