Kindergarten/community centre, Beachmere

Eligibility - Queensland citizens
Principal Petitioner:
Amy Kuczynski
18 Gibson Street
BEACHMERE QLD 4055
Total Signatures - 123
Sponsoring Member: Carryn Sullivan MP
Posting Date: 11/2/2009
Tabled Date: 11/2/2009
Responded By: Hon Rod Welford MP on 3/3/2009
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
This petition of the citizens of Beachmere draws to the attention of the House, a lack of provision for community early childhood education in Beachmere for kindergarten aged children. Currently one all day long care centre exists in Beachmere and one in Ningi. Many families from Beachmere commute to neighbouring community centres to access kindergarten programs, of which the waiting lists are significant. Programs in community centres generally run a short day (9-2) and children attend 2-3 days/week, easing them into the compulsory prep year. Community Kindergartens involve the wider community in the form of parent and community committees to help run the facility and create a sense of belonging and involvement in raising children. In addition, we would like to see this facility used for community involvement in out of kindergarten hours in the form of a community centre, with the possibility for after school care. We have established a need for a community centre aimed at aiding kindergarten aged children access to early childhood education, which is able to be accessed by the broader community because of subsidised fees. We therefore ask the House to assist in all possible avenues with relevant funding so a Kindergarten/community centre can be purpose built or adapted from an existing building in Beachmere. In addition we ask that consideration be made for all appropriate funding in regards to start up and ongoing costs associated with sustaining this centre.