There is a strong sense of community between staff and families from the Kool Kidz Tarneit Childcare centre, almost a month after a car crashed into the centre.
On June 6, a car smashed into the Tarneit Road centre causing extensive damage to the building.
The driver died at the scene and the incident is being investigated by police.
The centre’s building has been demolished, although some playground equipment remains.
Before the car crash, the centre had about 55 staff and 300 children.
The centre’s nominated supervisor Jennifer Benson said although the crash had been “devastating” for parents and employees, they were now looking to the future.
Ms Benson said the owners of Kool Kidz, husband and wife Ian and Sam, were going “above and beyond” to get their business back on its feet and re-opened within six to nine months.
Most of the children from the centre have been temporarily taken on by other Wyndham childcare services. Ms Benson said that while many of the Kool Kidz employees had also started working at these centres, they were keen to return to Kool Kidz.
Ms Benson said a parent from the centre had started a Gofundme.com page aimed at raising $10,000 to help the centre buy new resources and furniture, once it re-opened.
She said staff were also meeting up every month, and she is helping to organise weekly playgroup sessions so that children from the centre can see each other regularly.
“All of our families, I think, just want us to be together again.” Ms Benson said.
Alesha Capone
