FAMILIES with children with a disability are furious that a rejection of $7800 in funding could mean the closure of specialised after school care.
Sylvanvale's Outside of School Hours (OOSH) is the only program in St George and Sutherland Shire catering to children aged five to 11 with high needs.
Yet its funding request was overturned, meaning the program is in danger of closing down.
KU Inclusion Support Subsidy Provider, the body that oversees the federal government's ISS (inclusion support service) program, works with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
KU wrote to Sylvanvale chief executive Jill Deering to inform her of the decision not to provide the requested $7800, saying the application sits outside the government's guidelines.
As far as Justin and Jodie McIntosh are concerned it is bureaucracy gone mad.
Their son Eamon has used the OOSH service since it opened six years ago.
Mr and Mrs McIntosh work full-time and require after school care for their son.
"It is frustrating that it is over such a small amount of money," Mr McIntosh said.
"Just release the funding and don't mess with a winning formula. They need services — they can't keep cutting services."
Angela Wainwright's daughter Julia, 11, has been attending the program for four years.
"If SOOSH closed it means I'd have to change my work arrangements and pull my other children out of their after school activities," Ms Wainwright said.
"Julia and my family desperately need SOOSH to remain open."
Federal MP for Cook, Scott Morrison, said the Sylvanvale program provided a vital service.
"Sylvanvale's Outside Of School Hours care for disabled children is a fantastic program that helps the most vulnerable in our community and I call on the federal government to urgently review their refusal of this grant.
"My office has been in contact with both Sylvanvale and the federal minister and I will continue to make representations to the government in an effort to get this crucial funding back in place."
Sylvanvale's general manager of children's services, Leanne Fretten, said the service had opened in response to community need.
"The community has asked for it — that's why we operate it, even at a loss," she said.
"It is not making any money at all."
Should the funding be approved?
