A Federal Labor proposal to fund child care centres on church property could build ministry links in the community, say church leaders in inner Sydney.
Bishop of South Sydney Robert Forsyth said churches are one of the few places with land left and many churches reap benefits from having a child care centre on their property.
"Of course I'd be interested [in the proposal]," Bishop Forsyth said.
"Done well I think it's great. It can be a good way to connect with the community."
ALP childcare spokesperson Tanya Plibersek said 260 new child care centres would be funded from $200million in grants if the opposition wins the next federal election under Labor's blueprint for child care announced earlier this year.
The plan would create up to 25,000 new childcare places in primary schools and community land and end the "double drop-off' for parents, Labor leader Kim Beazley said.
A spokeswoman said Ms Plibersek has spoken to churches in her electorate that have indicated they are interested in the scheme.
The spokeswoman said federal grants would be given to "quality child care providers if there is an unmet need in the area'.
She said Labor would prefer childcare centres to be on school grounds or otherwise community land such as churches and old bowling clubs.
Under the plan, churches or community providers would supply land and the government would fund the costs of building and setting up the centre.
Bishop Forsyth cautioned that relationships can be fraught between churches and child care centre operators, and said care needs to be taken by both parties if the potential scheme went ahead.
"There's got to be a fair deal for both of them," he said.
"The church has got to be very careful not just go for the quick money at the expense of ministry."
The Rev Richard Lane, rector of St Stephen', Bellevue Hill, says while he has not given approval to Labor's plan, he believes the existing child care centre at St Stephen's "is a strategic resource for the Lord's kingdom purposes'.
"I do think that having a pre-school or long day care centre on a church property not only provides a real benefit to children and families, but it also provides a marvellous opportunity to build and enhance relationships within the local community," Mr Lane said.
"This latter feature is particularly attractive for any church which is committed to the Diocesan Mission as it creates a natural context within which to share the gospel in a multitude of ways.
"It's like having a field in one's backyard in which you scatter the seeds of the gospel, pray and then wait for God to bring the growth and reap the harvest.”
Rector of All Souls, Leichhardt, the Rev Tim Foster, told the Inner Western Courier that setting up a childcare centre in the church is something he has considered.
"We have the room for a 50-place centre, but without the support from the government it would be too expensive to set up."
The Federal Minister for Families, Mal Brough, said Labor's blueprint is "uncosted, doesn't guarantee new places, adds to the complexity of childcare" and provides absolutely no detail of how it would work'.
Photos courtesy Anissa Thompson
