Save Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre
Maribyrnong Council and the Western Bulldogs are planning to lease our beloved not-for-profit childcare centre to private providers. Our kids deserve better, they are not for profit.
We don't have long to make our voices heard.
Make a Submission to Maribyrnong Council
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Making a submission helps keep our cherished childcare centre in community hands — not in the hands of a private, for-profit provider.🗓️ Submission Deadline
Submissions close at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.✉️ How to Submit
You can make a written submission by:Email: [email protected]Post:
Manager Governance and Commercial Services
City of Maribyrnong
PO Box 58
West Footscray VIC 3012
What to say...Your submission doesn't have to be long. It can simply be:"I am writing to make a formal submission regarding Council’s intention to lease part of the
premises at 19 Hocking Street, Footscray to the Footscray Football Club.I object to any changes and think you should retain the not-for-profit part of the current lease terms.Thanks,"
Sign the Petition to Save Our Childcare Centre
Show your support by signing our petition. Your name and details help validate this submission. Personal information will remain confidential and will not be shared publicly.
Why we're fighting
Bulldogs Community Childcare Centre has served families in the Inner West for over 15 years.
✅ Community-run, not-for-profit childcare that is deeply trusted by local families.
✅ Staff are long-standing.
✅ Kids are thriving.But now that’s all under threat after the Maribyrnong Council childcare decision to open a 10-year lease which invites private, for-profit providers.
That means:
❌ Reduced quality of care.
❌ Worse safety standards.
❌ Poor meals and nutrition for the kids.
❌ Profits over children.
The real cost of for-profit daycare centres
While not all for-profit centres are poor quality, systemic issues in the sector show clear risks:
- Only 11% of for-profit centres exceed national standards, compared to 20–37% of not-for-profits.
- 90% of enforcement actions on safety in Victoria involved for-profit childcare providers.
- For-profit centres are twice as likely to fail educational National Quality Standards compared to not-for-profit centres.
- Higher staff turnover, lower wages and more casual workers unknown to other staff and kids.
- Profits go to corporate owners or shareholders rather than being reinvested in local kids and educators.
Are for-profit centres cheaper?
Some people assume private childcare is more affordable — but the facts say otherwise.The Bulldogs Children’s Centre charges $173 per day, which is on par or less than many private centres nearby.
For-profit centres don’t guarantee lower fees and often cut costs in other areas, like food, staff and resources.Here is a comparison of daily childcare fees in the area:
| Centre Name | Daily Fee | Operating structure |
|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs Community Children’s | $173 | Not-for-profit |
| Eden Academy Footscray | $172 | For-profit |
| Little VIPs Maidstone | $180 | For-profit |
| Learning Sanctuary Footscray | $191.5 | For-profit |
| Church Street Children's Centre | $173 | Not-for-profit |
Who funds the centre?
- Parent fees pay for food, staff and supplies.
- The Centre pays rent to the Western Bulldogs, not the Council.
- It is managed independently by ECMS, a trusted not-for-profit provider.
- Ratepayer money does not go towards running the Centre.
What we're asking
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.
Hear from parents at the centre
We're worried this could lead to higher fees, lower quality care, and profits being prioritised over children. The current provider, ECMS, is a trusted not-for-profit that reinvests in kids and staff — not shareholders. They run a number of high quality not-for-profit centres in and around the Footscray community.
How you can help
Get involvedwith the Bulldogs Childcare's campaign and help make our community voice louder.
Sign the Petition
Show your support, sign the petition to keep Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre Not-for-Profit.
Contact Council to change the vote
These are the Councillors who voted in favour of the Maribyrnong Council childcare decision to allow a for-profit takeover. Call and email them now, and ask them to change their vote:📞 0423 887 493 Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari (deciding vote)📞 0429 383 099 Cr Cuc Lam PSM📞 0423 769 995 Cr Susan Yengi
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In The Media
We are making noise.
Parents fear for future of beloved Footscray community childcare centre as council considers lease changes
Western Bulldogs accused of childcare cash grab by angry parents after proposed lease change.