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To: Maribynong City Council

Keep Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre Not-for-Profit

Big news, and a big community win.💥

Council has scrapped the current lease proposal for Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre after overwhelming opposition from parents, educators, and locals. They’re retaining the not-for-profit provider clause and removing the first right of refusal clause.

But this isn’t over.

We still need to secure a new lease that protects our kids, our educators, and the not-for-profit care we all value.

Our current provider, ECMS is a trusted, community-focused organisation that puts children before profits. Let’s make sure they stay.

Thank you to everyone who made noise, your voice made this happen. ✊🧡

Follow what happens next on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Follow the Facebook page and Website for updates
Media: The Age and ABC news articles

The kids of Bulldogs Community Children's Centre need your help!

The Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre has been run by a not-for-profit for the past 16 years. Their lease agreement is up, after expiring in April 2024. Now Maribyrnong council, as the owners of the facility, have to decide what to do. What should be a straightforward lease renewal has become a mess. 

Our centre is at risk of closing and changing hands to a for profit centre manager. We’ve all seen the media stories about what happens at for profit centres, we don’t want this to happen. 

We’re asking everyone to email, call and text Maribyrnong Council, our local MPs, and the Western Bulldogs Footy club and more to tell them to stop this from happening.

We call on the Maribyrnong Council to:

✅ Keep the not-for-profit requirement in the lease agreement.
✅ Commit to maintaining the current, high-quality not-for-profit provider and staff.
✅ Prioritise kids’ safety & education over profits.

Why is this important?

Background

The Western Bulldogs AFL Club (yep, the club) put forward a resolution at the 17 June Maribyrnong Council meeting requesting that the Council remove the requirement for the early learning provider to be a not-for-profit organisation, and to extend lease period to 10 years (up from 5). 

In a nutshell, council voted in support of this, with a 28 day consultation period. This means that a commercial for-profit provider could soon be running this centre - for a whole decade - before we can have a say in changing it.

What’s the issue?

  • The current provider now needs to compete against for-profit companies to manage the centre, which may prioritise profit over the best interests of our community, children, and education staff.
  • This new lease agreement will effectively remove a council owned asset from community control and place it in the hands of two corporations.
  • Long term impacts on accessibility for children in the surrounding neighbourhood to long daycare and Kindergarten as the waitlists will no longer be managed through council, which has criteria to protect inclusivity and access. 
  • Disruption to continuity of care for the children at the centre, who have established deep relationships with the experienced educators at Bulldogs CCC. A change in provider is likely to displace employment for existing staff. 

Why should people care? 

Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre is more than just a childcare service—it is a valued part of our community. It is a community asset that should remain in the ownership of the community.

Western Bulldogs need to reinforce their commitment to Footscray and not put profits over local families. 
Footscray VIC 3011, Australia

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Campaign Facebook Page Campaign Website

Updates

2025-07-30 17:10:38 +1000

Petition is successful with 907 signatures

2025-07-25 21:41:57 +1000

Big news, and a big community win.💥

Council has scrapped the current lease proposal for Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre after overwhelming opposition from parents, educators, and locals. They’re retaining the not-for-profit provider clause and removing the first right of refusal clause. 

But this isn’t over.

We still need to secure a new lease that protects our kids, our educators, and the not-for-profit care we all value.

Our current provider, ECMS is a trusted, community-focused organisation that puts children before profits. Let’s make sure they stay.

Thank you to everyone who made noise, your voice made this happen. ✊🧡

Follow what happens next on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

2025-07-04 08:52:56 +1000

500 signatures reached

2025-06-27 14:29:28 +1000

100 signatures reached

2025-06-27 12:24:09 +1000

50 signatures reached

2025-06-27 11:37:23 +1000

25 signatures reached

2025-06-26 18:24:25 +1000

10 signatures reached

2025-06-25 15:01:33 +1000

Council contacts:

The Councillors voting in favour of the motion to allow a for-profit takeover were:

Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari (deciding vote) 
Telephone 0423 887 493
 Email [email protected]

Cr Cuc Lam PSM
Telephone 0429 383 099
Email [email protected]

Cr Susan Yengi
Telephone 0423 769 995
Email [email protected]

Councillors voting in opposition to the motion:

Deputy Mayor, Cr Bernadette Thomas
Telephone 0407 599 698
Email [email protected]

Cr Samantha Meredith
Telephone 0423 761 560
Email [email protected]

Cr Elena Pereyra
 Telephone 0423 836 555
 Email [email protected]

Councillors who abstained (stated conflict of interest):

Cr Mohamed Semra
Telephone 0423 778 507
Email [email protected]