New childcare facilities on campus FAQs
ANU is launching a process to provide two new purpose-built childcare facilities on campus, set to open in early 2025.
The University is currently in exclusive negotiations with our existing community childcare centres to discuss ways they might operate the two new centres.
During this process, existing centres will continue to operate as usual, providing uninterrupted childcare services.
We will continue to update you throughout the process. You can read our FAQs below for more information.
Why is ANU investing in these new childcare facilities?
By investing in these facilities, ANU can ensure our childcare services on campus continue to provide families with high-quality childcare in new facilities and with minimal disruptions.
We have also received feedback from childcare providers, parents and guardians that the current heritage buildings are not fit-for-purpose. These new facilities will enhance our services on campus and provide a structurally fit environment for children’s education and learning.
Why can't the current on campus childcare arrangements continue?
While our four community providers have offered excellent care over many years, the heritage-listed buildings have caused disruption due to the maintenance required to keep them operational. They require ongoing remedial work due to their age, internal water damage, historic traces of lead-based paint, and damage from the 2020 hailstorm.
As the current licences for community childcare are set to expire on 31 January 2025, this is the right time for ANU to enhance our service delivery to our community in two new purpose-built facilities.
We have invited the four community childcare centre operators to negotiate directly and exclusively with us about ways they might operate the two new centres. We hope this will enable ANU to offer the childcare services we all clearly value in excellent new facilities from January.
Should we be unable to find an agreement after these negotiations, we will need to move to a formal general procurement process from 22 July to ensure childcare continues to operate on campus from the expiry of current licences in January 2025.
Will the two new facilities be able to accommodate the current demand from the University?
ANU families using the four heritage childcare centres will have priority place in the new facilities and it is anticipated these will have enough places to meet the current ANU demand.
What does this mean for placements in 2025 if I have a child/children already in one of the community centres?
Families will have continuity of care arrangements by ensuring, as part of the procurement process, that the successful provider(s) prioritise places for existing ANU families in the new facilities.
It is anticipated these will have enough places to meet the current ANU demand.
When did ANU notify childcare providers on campus?
The University met with the four community childcare providers on 13 June to discuss the childcare arrangements for 2025.
Please note that Goodstart Early Learning ANU centre is not impacted by these arrangements, as their commercial agreement is separate from the community childcare providers on campus. However, as a courtesy, Goodstart were provided an update on 14 June.
How will existing providers participate in operating the new childcare services?
Before any formal procurement process, we will collaborate with our four current community providers to seek proposals for operating the two new childcare centres. This approach values the existing providers' contributions and aims for consistency in staffing and care quality. Negotiations will begin in the week of 24 June, with the goal of reaching agreements by 22 July. If an agreement is not reached, a formal procurement process will commence to ensure continuous childcare services on campus.
When will the procurement process take place?
The University is currently working with the four community childcare providers to negotiate directly and exclusively about ways they might operate the two new centres. Should we be unable to find agreement after these negotiations, a formal general procurement process will commence from 22 July 2024.
How will ANU keep everyone updated?
We will continue to work closely with our childcare providers on campus. Our priority is to ensure our childcare providers, parents and guardians are informed throughout the procurement process.
Our wider community will be updated via the University’s flagship newsletter On Campus. We will also continue to update the FAQs here.
If you would like to share your ideas or suggestions for the new facilities, please email it through to commercial.services@anu.edu.au.
What will the new facilities include?
We will provide this information as soon as we can. We are currently working with the four community childcare providers to negotiate directly and exclusively with us about ways they might operate the two new centres. If you would like to share your ideas or suggestions for the new facilities, please email it through to commercial.services@anu.edu.au.
Why can’t the University just upgrade or continue to maintain the current buildings?
We need new facilities because the centres are currently based in heritage-listed buildings. Heritage regulations mean we are severely restricted in the improvements we can make to their structures inside and out. These buildings were designed and built in a different era, and while we maintain them diligently, the buildings are showing their age and will, in the coming months, require closure to carry out hail remediation work that is becoming increasingly necessary.
How much maintenance do these buildings require?
In the last 12 months, the University has completed 244 corrective or reactive maintenance work orders at a cost of almost $1 million across the four heritage buildings where the childcare centres are based.
Contact
- Commercial Services+61 2 6125 4000-2
Page Owner: ANU Communications & Engagement