Families face 150km daily drive as more regional childcare centres close
One of Australia’s largest childcare providers says it will close three of its branches in south-west Western Australia, leaving dozens of families without a childcare alternative.
Three towns in Western Australia's south-west will lose their childcare centres by December. Parents must drive hundreds of kilometres daily or take time off work to seek alternative services. The Australian Childcare Alliance notes this follows a national trend, with numerous centres struggling financially. Julienne Slade, a former police officer turned teacher, works in Mount Barker, 370 kilometres from Perth.
She and her husband, an agricultural worker, now face driving long distances to access childcare. The closure will impact their careers, with potential lost income due to work interruptions. Uplyft, a childcare provider, will close centres in Mount Barker, Kojonup, and Katanning over the next six months. CEO Jo Sadler cited lease conditions and unviability of services as reasons for the closures.
Kojonup's sole centre will close by mid-2027, while Mt Barker and Katanning's centres will cease by year-end 2026. Families are scrambling for alternative childcare but face long waitlists and limited options. Kojonup resident Ryan Colman, whose child attends Uplyft, fears the long daily drive will add financial strain. Across Australia, 152 services permanently closed between 2024 and mid-2026, with 276 more at risk by July 2027.
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia's vice-president, Nesha Hutchinson, attributes the closures to inflation and high operational costs.
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