SDN Ultimo to close, struggling in post-COVID tertiary landscape

SDN Ultimo, a 55 place long day care service located on the grounds of Sydney TAFE’s Ultimo College campus will close on the 16th of December as declining attendance in a post pandemic landscape has forced the provider to make some tough decisions. 

Since on campus attendance for both academic staff and students at the TAFE was put on hold at the height of pandemic restrictions, attendance has tumbled, with the provider also being impacted by a decline in foot traffic at its inner city location.

 

Given the service’s previous enrolment pool of both staff and students has declined, with the majority now learning online, SDN made the difficult decision to close just prior to the Christmas break to allow families the opportunity to start the new year afresh with a new provider.

 

“Making the decision to close a service is always a difficult one,” CEO Kay Turner said, “and we understand that the experience is an upsetting one for families, and for the children in our care.” 

 

A representative from SDN outlined that the provider’s central inquiry team is supporting families to access vacancies in its other centres as well as in the area, while staff will be redeployed to other SDN services wherever possible. 

 

“We will be doing all we can to support both our staff and the children and families at this challenging time.” 

 

Some parents of the service responded with surprise to the news, with one family sharing that "we're all quite shocked" and that "we were never given any indication that things were not going well."

 

“They are giving very minimal notice, four weeks, right before Christmas, and we're not sure what to do, because both my wife and I work full time,” the parent added.

 

For the families who are accessing SDNs specialised transition to school preschool program at the service, which supports children with autism spectrum disorder to make a smooth transition into their schooling years, the change is expected to be especially challenging. 

 

“We will be opening an autism-specific pre-school room in the new year at a nearby centre,” Ms Turner explained. “We know any change for children with autism can be disruptive and will work with families to make it as easy as we can.”

 

More information about SDN is available here.