My daughter attended Footscray Park childcare for nearly three years and it was an extension of her family for that time. She is now 13 and still calls in to revisit when we are in town. She was known and cared for by individuals who knew and understood her needs. I value the time my daughter had at Footscray Park. If it ain't broke...don't fix it!

Children's learning in the first few years of life is crucial to their success and well-being in their school years and as they progress through life. An institution such as VU has the opportunity and position to truly embrace and celebrate 'life-long learning', and be a leader in the field by continuing to deliver high quality child care as is. Education in the broad, not narrow, sense should be VU's 'core business'.

As a Children Services student at VU that has observed and visited these services, this news has truly disappointed me. VU centres are an example of the bench marks us Educators are working towards and it would never be the same if the centres were to be privatised.

This needs serious consideration, there is nothing good about privatised childcare. Having worked in the industry for over 18 years I can tell you when it comes to the bottom line the money wins and parents, children and staff lose every time. You know this to be true, so try to rethink what you are proposing, early childhood education is not babysitting give it the quality and care it deserves for the most vunerable in our society. They have a voice, you just need to listen.

Outsourcing this service will only lead to price increases on parents who are trying to better their future by undertaking University programs. These are the parents within our community who can least afford additional price increases because of their commitment to higher education and therefore are not earning a full time income.

Having used a commercially run childcare centre in the past, I know first-hand that there is a difference in care. Commercial imperatives and child care are a poor mix. I strongly urge the powers that be to reconsider their view that the care of their staff members' children is "not core business". Look beyond the surface and realise that your staff will deliver your core business much more effectively, happily and with greater loyalty if they know their employers care about the care of their children.

Don't close the childcare centres, they are central to the staff at VU and my experience with the Footscray Park child care centre was wonderful :)

I'm the head teacher in an ECE centre in North Otago in NZ and also the grandmother of a child at the centre in question. We live in an isolated area of NewZealand which limits the attendance of some of our students. Many have to travel an hour to attend. These children miss out on a lot of the opportunities that frequent attendance can provide as the take so long to settle and develop a full sense of 'well being' that they slip behind those children who are able to attend full time. Please don't close centres in urban areas. Many of the children there will then have the same issues due to travel time or would end up in unsuitable private care. Our children are our future. We must take care of them. Good Luck to the VU Centres from your Kiwi cousins.