Arabic version: إغلاق مراكز رعاية الأطفال في مناطق غرب أستراليا يهدد خطط عمل الأسر

According to ABC News, three towns in south-west Western Australia are set to lose childcare centres, leaving parents to consider time away from work, long daily drives or waitlists for alternative places. Provider Uplyft said centres in Mount Barker and Katanning would close by the end of December 2026, while its Kojonup service would close in the first half of 2027.

Mount Barker resident Julienne Slade said the closure of one of the town’s two centres had disrupted plans for her family. Slade, a former police officer who moved into teaching after returning to her hometown, said she and her husband would have to adapt their work arrangements. Her husband works in agriculture, and she said lost work could mean lost income.

In Kojonup, mechanic Ryan Colman said the closure of the town’s only centre would leave his family without another local option. He said taking his two-year-old child to another service could require driving 80 kilometres return twice a day, adding fuel costs to household expenses.

Uplyft chief executive Jo Sadler said lease conditions affecting the Mount Barker and Katanning sites had also made the Kojonup operation unviable. Families told ABC News they were seeking places at other centres but faced limited availability and waitlists.

The closures reflect wider financial pressure on childcare services, according to the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia and the Australian Childcare Alliance. Council data showed 152 services permanently closed between 2024 and mid-2026, while a further 276 were at risk of closure by July 2027. Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson said inflation and high operating costs were pushing regional, rural and remote services towards financial unviability.