Push For Childcare On Campus During Exams

by Christiana Jones

June 2, 2004

MURDOCH students struggling to balance study with parenting will get help under a proposal to extend campus childcare services during study breaks and exam periods.

Bec Reid, representative for Murdoch's part-time, external and mature-age students group (PEMS), is requesting childcare services be extended to coincide with the library's increased opening hours during these periods.

The proposal is in response to emails Ms Reid received from students concerned with a lack of campus childcare at these times.

"Basically, I want to offer free or very low cost casual childcare to any students who need it over the study break and exams," she said.

"The service would be available to any student, regardless of their enrolment type."

Murdoch's Childcare Centre offers 48 places for children between six months and school age with casual places only available if a vacancy arises on that day.

According to Ms Reid, no primary-aged childcare facility is currently available on campus during the study break.

The proposed service would run from 3pm to 9pm weekdays and 8.30am to 5pm one day of the weekend.

Ms Reid said the Childcare Centre is under-funded and doing the best it can under the circumstances, but 48 childcare places for a university of thousands was a poor ratio.

Childcare Centre director, Maureen George, agreed the centre did not have the capacity to meet the demand for places and that this has been an ongoing problem.

The proposed service would use a space such as the amenities building's function centre because strict guidelines govern the Childcare Centre's opening hours and prevent it increasing its intake without extending the premises.

Ms Reid said fully qualified staff would make the project expensive with a "good percentage" of PEMS funds being put towards the service.

She said that students with children faced numerous difficulties but the proposal would address some of the key childcare problems of cost, waiting lists and the lack of casual care.

"It should be as low stress as possible, so that parents who are trying to study for exams don't have to worry about how they are going to get their kids cared for, the cost and pre-booking worries," Ms Reid said.

The proposal is still in the early stages and will involve close communication with the Guild and the Childcare Centre.

People with feedback about the proposal can contact Ms Reid on 9360 6585 between 6.30am and 1pm weekdays and Sundays.