COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP IN THE 21 ST CENTURY ADVOCACY IN ACTION! Lauren Matthews Policy & Advocacy Worker Community Child Care Association of Victoria

Our Children – Our Community Community Owned Children’s Services LOUD & PROUD We are all Advocates What is Community Ownership? Historically Speaking ‘Leave it to the Market’ Community Ownership – Alive & Thriving Advocacy in Action! Celebrating ‘Proudly Community Owned’

DOES COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP EVEN MATTER IN THE 21 ST CENTURY?

ADVOCACY ‘to be called to stand beside’

BRAINSTORM Why do you work in community owned services?

Communities demanded the availability of a universal system of high quality child care services owned and run by the families that use them

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP Philanthropy ↓ Community ↓ The Market

COMMUNITY OWNED CHILDREN’S SERVICES ‘PROFESSIONALS ON TAP, NOT ON TOP’

‘…services for families with young children … have the capacity to generate networks and develop communities out of localities.’ (Community Child Care Association of Victoria 1977)

CHILD CARE POLICY ‘LEAVE IT TO THE MARKET’

CURRENT CHILD CARE POLICY Federal Government Child Care Policy = Corporate Profit

BRAINSTORM Why have community-owned services survived? What makes community-owned services unique? What sets them apart from commercial services?

FOR-PROFIT & COMMUNITY OWNED THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE Both service types strive to provide quality care for children. Commercial services also bring private financial capital into children's services. Community services also develop social capital (in addition to acting as custodians of public/ community financial capital).

COMMUNITY OWNED SERVICES ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT By empowering parents By including children who are difficult to serve By integrating with other community services By not operating for personal profit

‘corporate chains offer the lowest quality of care … and in some cases it is markedly lower than that provided by community-based long day care centres’ (Rush, 2006 – The Australia Institute)

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP & ADVOCACY

City of Yarra “On Tuesday 14th of June kids overtook the Yarra council chamber with carers to urge action on insufficient childcare places. While a smallish number given the 1,000s of flyers, posters and notices that went out, it was stunning result at 7.30pm on a winter's school night. In the space of the chamber the numbers were overwhelming, and two camera crews from Channel caught the action of which there was plenty. We're thrilled. I made a submission (somewhat unprepared - Faith had 4 tantrums before we left) to council and later a pro- child care motion was put and passed.” (Liz Conor, More Child Care In Yarra)

Yarra Ranges ‘Those parents directly involved in fighting to save the centres are committed to staying focused on their ultimate goal of keeping both centres run by the Council and making both centres viable and sustainable into the future.’ (Faorligh Hunter, Co-Chair Parents Advisory Committee Sherbrooke Children’s Centre)

City of Glen Eira ‘Success for Caulfield Children’s Centre Community Child Care congratulates the parent group at the Caulfield Children’s Centre for their successful campaign to reverse the Glen Eira Council’s decision to close their centre – this is a fine example of how child care brings people together to take social action in support of not-for-profit child care.’

TAFE ‘Several TAFE child care services have approached Community Child Care for assistance with fighting the decision of TAFE colleges to close centres now that they no longer receive operational subsidies from the Victorian Government. Community Child Care continues to support this impressive group of parents with lobbying advice, resourcing of the fledgling committee and with moral support.’

BRAINSTORM How do you advocate for community ownership? What strategies do you use? What works well?

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP ENDORSEMENT SCHEME

PRINCIPLES OF THE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP ENDORSEMENT SCHEME Families have the right to access community owned child care Families require information in order to judge quality Community ownership is fundamental to the development of the highest standards of care Community ownership is fundamental to the development of society Quality of services is enhanced when families can participate in the development and management of services

‘PROUDLY COMMUNITY OWNED’

BRAINSTORM Where would you like NACBCS to go on this issue? What can NACBCS do to help?

CHILDREN, TOO PRECIOUS FOR PROFIT!