UTS Child Care Inc. - Philosophy

PREAMBLE

The organised provision of child care services at UTS began in the early 1980s with a small unlicensed child care centre set up by the Students Association. Following agreement between the University, the UTS Union and the Students Association to act as co-sponsors, the University built a purpose built centre at the city campus which opened as a licensed centre in 1987. Following that, further child care facilities were established at other campus locations and UTS Child Care inc. (UTSCC) was established by the Vice Chancellor as an Incorporated Association in 1991 with overall responsibility for child care services at UTS.

When UTSCC was established, it was agreed that children’s services on campus be established on a non-profit basis, with management by a Board comprising a majority of parent users of child care. The services were to be managed from within the university community and provided primarily for staff and students of UTS, although not necessarily closed to members of the general community. The University itself would not retain day to day control of the services, although it would retain longer term veto of substantial changes in the direction of UTSCC.

The Union and the University agreed to accept longer term responsibility as sponsors of the services and to provide ongoing financial support to ensure that UTSCC could meet the special child care needs of a campus community. In setting up UTSCC, it was considered that:

a) The provision of child care on campus was an important facility that would allow many students, who were the parents of young children, to complete courses, and would allow staff to return to work from maternity leave and to continue working in the knowledge that their children were being cared for appropriately.

b) In line with the overall aims of the University, the provision of child care was an important equity measure, which fitted within the University’s efforts in removing barriers to appropriate access for staff and students.

c) Even when child care was available from other child care centres not connected with UTS, the services provided did not match the requirements of members of the University community. Other centres did not open in the evening, did not allow child enrolment patterns to match UTS student course programs, did not allow child enrolment patterns to vary from semester to semester, required students to utilise child care during vacation periods, and could not match UTS staff requirements for flexible hours of child care that matched flexible work patterns. (With the growth of flexible course delivery, summer school, intensive courses etc., that is as true now as it always was.)

d) That affordable child care, especially for low income students played an important role in allowing parents to continue their association with UTS, if and when short term financial pressures threatened to force the student to abandon or curtail study.

The support of the University has been important in the development of UTSCC with the provision of land for centres, the provision of capital to build centres and the ongoing integration of UTSCC operations within the University infrastructure. The support of the Union and the Students Association has been equally important, both in financial terms but also in developing a culture within UTS that child care services on campus are a necessary part of the fabric of campus life.

With the enrolment of members of the general community and the advent of cooperative ventures for UTSCC, currently with Film Australia and with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, UTSCC has the responsibility to ensure its services meet the needs of all families using the centres. UTSCC’s primary focus will remain the children of the staff and students of the University; of its own staff; of the staff of the Union, the Students Association and other associated bodies of the UTS community; and the staff of any co-sponsor organisations. As well UTSCC has a strong commitment to focus on and take into account the best interests of all families using the centres.

PHILOSOPHY OF UTSCC

a) The provision of child care on campus supports and assists individual staff and students who use the services to work and study at UTS and to work at co-sponsor organisations.

b) The provision of child care, as one of a range of services made available within the UTS community, is an important part of the fabric of university life for all staff and students, and an important aspect of the conditions of employment within UTS and UTSCC co-sponsors.

c) The children and families who use child care services on campus, should be provided with a high quality of care and education for the children.

d) As the special child care needs of UTS students are neglected by the majority of child care providers in the community, UTSCC services should provide those services whenever possible.

e) The operations of UTSCC should reflect the general philosophy and mission of UTS as an organisation.

f) To be relevant to the families of the UTS community and the co-sponsor organisations, including low income student families, child care services on campus need to be provided at an affordable cost.

g) The provision a supportive and positive work environment for its staff is important, and also enhances the quality of the service provided to children and parents using the child care centres.

h) The extension of UTSCC services to members of the general community reflects the University's commitment to being open and responsive to the needs of the community of which it is a part.

MISSION OF UTSCC

a) The provision of children’s services which reflect the diversity of the Australian community and which respect the needs, interests and aspirations of the families using the services.

b) The provision of high quality child care services which optimise the care of children and provide an appropriate educational environment to maximise children’s development and long term interests

c) The provision of children’s services with enrolment policies and options and a child care program structured to meet the special needs of the UTS community

d) The employment of staff at UTSCC on wages and conditions, comparable to those of other UTS staff and which are conducive to creating a positive environment for staff as well as children and parents.

e) The financial management of child care services to ensure continued financial viability of UTSCC, while maintaining child care fees at an affordable level for all families, especially low income students.

OBJECTIVES OF UTSCC

a) The formal objects of the Association, as included in the UTS Child Care Inc. Statement of Objects and rules are :

i) to provide non-profit child care for the children of students and staff or other persons related in any way with the University, and to members of the general community;

ii) to promote the well-being and education of any child within its care, relative to the child's age and stage of development;

iii) to provide a program of experience which will promote the total development and well being of children attending the children's service;

iv) to provide care and education for children with special needs;

v) to encourage parent and community involvement in the operation of the children's services so that through active participation both family and community work together to achieve the objects of the association;

vi) to campaign for extension of affordable, high quality children's services;

vii) to apply for funding or assist other groups to apply for funding for children's services;

viii) to contribute to processes of policy development and change amongst relevant government agencies and other authorities in relation to children's services;

ix) to undertake collection of data, research and policy analysis in relation to children's services for the purpose of promoting and developing methods relating to the education of children and to work with other organizations similarly involved;

x) to undertake fund-raising activities for the purpose of providing funds to be used in accordance with the objects of the association;

xi) to foster educational opportunities for carers as well as children and to participate in new programs and ventures;

xii) to create, develop and maintain such children's services as the board may from time to time determine; and

xiii) to facilitate access to educational and employment opportunities.

b) From time to time the Board and the individual services within UTS Child care inc. will develop objectives in response to the needs of families using UTSCC services; the needs of UTSCC staff; the needs of the University; and the UTS community. Those objectives are developed within the overall mission of the Association.