MORE than 100 Maribyrnong families could be forced to seek alternative care for their children if the city’s two ABC Learning Centres are closed down in December.

The future of Australia’s biggest childcare provider is in doubt following the company’s financial collapse this month.

Staff at Maribyrnong’s ABC sites last week remained tight-lipped about the possible closures, refusing to comment on widespread speculation they could be facing Christmas unemployed.

While ABC would not confirm how many children were enrolled at ABC’s Braybrook and Kingsville centres, figures on the Maribyrnong Council website indicate the two sites can cater to as many as 113 children.

Local parents have expressed shock and anger over the news.

“ABC is the only childcare centre in Braybrook,” said one parent.

“If it closes down, what is going to happen to our kids?”

The Braybrook woman, who did not wish to be named, said she feared she would have to travel to Deer Park or Kingsville on public transport if the centre closed down.

“I don’t have a car, so I’d have to leave very early in the morning to drop the kids off.

“It would be very sad. I’ve been coming here since my son was a toddler and he’s nearly 16.”

Several other parents with children enrolled at the Braybrook centre said they had been unaware closure was on the cards.

Braybrook father Sam Nguyen said he had heard ABC was having problems but had not realised it could affect his family.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Mr Nguyen said.

“If this place closes down I would have to look after my kids at home until I could find another centre.

I might have to start looking somewhere else.”

West Footscray mum Shirley Dieo had visited the Braybrook facility on Thursday afternoon to inquire about day care for her young daughter.

“I didn’t know all this was going on,” Ms Dieo said.

Ms Dieo said the ABC revelations had forced her to re-think her enrolment bid.

“This was the first place I tried, but maybe I’ll have to try somewhere else,” Ms Dieo said.

The Federal Government has injected a $22 million dollar lifeline to ensure the company will continue to operate until the end of the year and is calling for expressions of interest from councils and community groups.

Maribyrnong City Council representatives yesterday attended an urgent meeting convened by the Municipal Association of Victoria to discuss possible actions but stopped short of pledging financial support for the failed centres.

The council last week contacted the six community and six privately owned day-care centres in the municipality, to brief them on information provided by the State Government.

“Council has not been advised directly about any possible closure of the ABC Learning Centres in Braybrook and Kingsville,” said General Manager Jenny McMahon.

Ms McMahon said council would continue to monitor the situation as it developed.