Parents in Hume are voicing frustration after Hume City council changed kindergarten session times, removing a popular shorter-day option used by many working families.
The council is to replace the three-day, five-hour kindergarten model with two 7.5-hour days a week from next year, prompting concern from parents who say the change was made without consultation.
Sunbury mum Chantel Feghali, 34, discovered the change when she saw the 2026 kindergarten timetable.
“There was no notice released by the council,” she said. “I only found out as the kindergarten timetable was released and I noticed the change in hours at many of the sessional kindergartens. It’s very different from the year prior where they all had long and shorter day options.”
Ms Feghali, whose uses the Dulap Wilim kindergarten for her child has written to Hume councillors and posted an open letter on social media, calling on other families to speak out.
“This change affects our children’s wellbeing, development, and the fairness of the early learning system in Hume,” she said.
In a formal letter to council, Ms Feghali cited international research showing long daycare hours can be stressful for young children.
“Multiple peer-reviewed studies and early childhood education experts agree; longer kindergarten days are not better for most 3- and 4-year-olds,” she said.
Ms Feghali said the removal of the three X five-hour model has taken away an important choice for families.
“Children are missing out on an extra day of structured social, cognitive, and emotional learning,” she said, adding that children can sometimes struggle with “fatigue and dysregulation” during longer sessions.
She’ urged’s urging council to reinstate shorter-day options in time for next year or provide greater flexibility for families.
“This is about fairness and child wellbeing,” she said. “One size does not fit all when it comes to raising healthy, happy children.
Ms Feghali wants Hume City Council to:
1. Reinstate the option of 3 x 5-hour kindergarten sessions per week, or offer a flexible alternative to families who do not want long days.
2. Ensure that future planning in early years education is guided by child development research, not just funding hours.
3. Consult with families across Hume to better understand their needs – and to reflect the diversity of children and parenting situations in our community.
A council spokesperson said: “The 3 x 5 hour sessions remain available in the Sunbury area, however could not be accommodated at Dulap Willam Kindergarten where demand for places is greater than those available.
“These changes allow for additional hours to ensure vulnerable children starting in 2026 still meet requirements of the government reform, and are informed by parent survey data that demonstrated a preference for longer day sessions that support working parents.”
