Childcare Closures Force Regional WA Families to Face Long Daily Commutes

Three towns in south-west Western Australia are losing their childcare centres, leaving dozens of families to face long daily drives or time off work.

The Closures

Childcare provider Uplyft will shut down its branches in Mount Barker, Katanning, and Kojonup. The Mount Barker and Katanning locations will close by the end of December 2026, while the Kojonup centre will shut down in the first half of 2027. Uplyft chief executive Jo Sadler said lease conditions forced the closures in Mount Barker and Katanning, which made the isolated Kojonup service unviable to run.

Impact on Families

Parents in the region say the shut-downs will hurt their careers and finances. Mount Barker resident and former police officer Julienne Slade said her family may lose up to $5,000 or $6,000 a day in income if her husband has to stay home to watch the children. Kojonup mechanic Ryan Colman, whose two-year-old child attends the centre five days a week, said he will have to drive more than 150 kilometres a day to reach another service, adding extra fuel costs to his mortgage and bills.

Context

Data from the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia shows that 152 services permanently closed between 2024 and mid-2026. Australian Childcare Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson stated that rising inflation and high running costs are putting financial strain on hundreds of regional, rural, and remote services across the country.