Deal eases kinder parent workload

Parents who voluntarily manage 860 preschools across Victoria have been given a guarantee that they will not have to shoulder the load of payroll administration.

Announcing a deal with a private contractor, ADP Employer Services, Community Services Minister Christine Campbell said the Government would pay for a private payroll administration service with the deal locked in until June 30, 2004.

ADP’s Payroll Support Service would keep the burden off the 860 volunteer management committees of administering the staff payroll for about 4,800 staff, Ms Campbell said.

‘So many of our preschools are run on the goodwill of volunteer parents and I’m glad the Government can continue to lighten the load in this way.

‘In this, the International Year of Volunteers, I want to congratulate parents for the selfless work they contribute to their childrens’ preschools.

‘Volunteering in preschools is not only about ensuring the smooth running of the administration but it also gives preschools an intimate sense of closeness and community.

Ms Campbell said the Government would continue its strong support of Victorian preschools, including aiming to ensure that every four-year-old has the social and education experience of a year of preschool.

Over the past two years, all of Victoria’s 1,660 preschools have benefited from the Government’s Preschool For Everyone policy, which has delivered an extra $8 million of funds to increase support for more than 61,000 four-year-olds and their families.

‘The result has been astounding.

‘Across Victoria, the percentage of four-year-olds attending preschools has surged from 91.8 per cent in February 1999 to 97 per cent in August 2000.’