By Xavier Smerdon
THE livelihood of Wyndham Council workers hangs in the balance with an essential child development program potentially being outsourced.
Star understands that the Primary Holiday Program which is operated and managed through the council’s Early Years and Youth Unit will be outsourced if approved by councillors at a meeting next week.
The Program provides educational activities for children aged from five to 12-years-old during the school holidays.
According to the Wyndham City Council website the Primary Holiday Program “recognises the value of play for children especially in middle childhood and will continually develop, improve and deliver a range of quality, value for money programs and information to children and their families in the Wyndham community.”
The Program is currently undergoing a “best value” process and the option to outsource is likely to be voted on by councillors at the first council meeting of the year on 24 January.
If the plan to outsource the program is given the green light, council employees who work on the program may lose their jobs.
Last week councillors told Star job creation and retention was one of the biggest issues facing Wyndham.
