26 MarMerri Community Childcare and Kindergarten: Successfully navigating change
By Leanne Rodriguez
Leanne Rodriguez, ELAA’s BSBL Reform and Engagement Advisor, sat down with Helen Evdokimou-Mina, Director of Merri Community Childcare and Kindergarten (MCCK), to discuss their recent renovations—a joint project between MCCK and Darebin Council. Established in 1987, MCCK is a long day care centre with 54 places, managed by a volunteer-parent committee. The renovations aim to expand facilities for the growing demand for its integrated three-year-old kindergarten program and the Best Start, Best Life Reform, increasing licensing capacity from 11 to 16. This project, running from mid-June to September 2024, highlights MCCK’s commitment to high-quality early childhood education.
Meeting the Challenge of Temporary Relocation
With construction underway, relocating the three-year-old kindergarten program to a secondary council-owned building became necessary. This decision was vital for ensuring both child and staff safety during renovations. However, navigating this transition presented several challenges that required careful management.
Key Challenges Faced
● Maintaining operations and safety:
The primary focus was to maintain seamless operations while prioritising safety. The team established rigorous safety protocols and carried out comprehensive risk assessments to ensure a secure environment for all. Attention was required for temporary entry and exit points, along with traffic management, as the service is situated on a busy road, which also posed noise challenges. Additionally, evacuation procedures, including emergency evacuation maps and routes, needed to be implemented at the temporary site.
● Finding a suitable venue:
Locating an appropriate venue suitable for hosting the three-year-old kindergarten program was critical. The team explored various options to ensure that the selected location met children’s needs and provided adequate resources. This proved additional challenges for the leadership as they were required to support teams across two sites, ensuring the team and families felt connected to the wider community.
● Administrative and licensing requirements:
Operating from a new location required the approved provider to obtain an additional service approval. The team worked diligently to meet regulatory requirements. Other considerations included setting up internet and phone access at the temporary site.
● Break coverage:
With staff divided between two locations, providing adequate break coverage required deep consideration. The leadership team developed a flexible schedule that ensured all staff received their necessary breaks without compromising quality or compliance.
● Transportation of meals:
Coordinating meal transportation to the temporary site posed another range of considerations. To address the logistics of the situation, efficient processes were established for timely and safe delivery while maintaining nutritional standards for children.
● Managing the outdoor space:
Throughout the construction, there were space limitations for the four-year-old children. As such, modifications to the routine and program were required.
Strategic Solutions
To support these complex changes, MCCK implemented several key strategies:
● Open communication:
Transparent communication with staff, families, and community members became paramount as updates were shared regularly throughout the renovation process alongside encouraging feedback.
● Collaboration with Darebin Council:
A robust partnership with Darebin Council proved invaluable in navigating regulatory requirements, location logistics and project management.
● Flexibility and adaptability:
Sound flexibility demonstrated how the team adjusted plans and routines as needed throughout the renovation period.
Successful Outcomes
Renovations completed by late September 2024 allowed the three-year-olds to return to their newly expanded spaces without significant disruption, reflecting the educators’ commitment to high-quality education. Community engagement was enhanced, and effective change management strategies were implemented.
MCCK’s experience underscores the significance of strategic planning and collaboration in achieving positive outcomes despite challenges along the way.
If you would like to share your journey or need any support planning for and implementing change, contact Leanne Rodriguez our Best Start, Best Life Reform and Engagement Advisor: membersolutions@elaa.org.au.
