Teresa Anderson, Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District, announced on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 that Lucas Street Child Care Centre would be demolished to make way for a new staff car park at RPA Hospital.

CEO Teresa Anderson has framed this issue as a zero sum game: RPA’s CARPARK versus CHILDCARE for kids under 5 years old at Lucas St Childcare Centre. We believe this is a FALSE choice.

Please sign this petition if you believe RPA employees need to have BOTH access to a car park and access to childcare.

We understand there are multiple sites that can be used for the Carpark, that don’t remove other hospital facilities like Childcare that are important to RPA Hospital employees. The Child Care Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has been running continuously for 36 years and caters for hospital staff - nurses, social workers, cleaners, doctors and others. It is a crucial resource to employees at a particular life stage.

Please sign this petition if you believe Sydney Local Health District need to find a appropriate, speedy solution that addresses community concerns for BOTH an RPA Car Park & a Childcare center. We do not want to divide our RPA community. We want to make sure we can ALL RPA EMPLOYEES can get on with the work of helping the sick and vulnerable in our community.

You can read more about the background of the Lucas St Child Care and Car Park decision here.

We call on CEO Teresa Anderson and Sydney Local Health District to:

1. Announce concrete plans for the replacement of Lucas St Childcare Centre, and provide satisfactory local arrangements in consultation with those affected for the period between now and when the new centre is opened.

2. Find a Car Park solution that works for everyone and is speedy, and does not create divisiveness amongst RPA employees and in the community

We call on the NSW Health Minister, The Hon. Jillian Skinner MP, to:

3. Conduct a review to ensure best practice management processes are being used by senior management at Sydney Local Health District for decisions that have a high community impact.