Bush childcare crisis

Published on 22 October 2025

Child colouring

Bush childcare crisis: councils warn red tape and funding failures could shut down vital services

Queensland councils are urging the Federal Government to urgently reform childcare regulation and funding models to ensure the long-term viability of early childhood education and care in regional, rural and remote communities.

Resolutions backed by councils at the LGAQ’s 129th Annual Conference highlighted the urgent need for fit-for-purpose childcare regulation, sustainable funding, and a dedicated rural workforce strategy to keep vital childcare services open in the bush.

LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said councils are increasingly being forced to operate childcare centres as providers of last resort due to market failure, a situation that is neither sustainable nor fair.

“Access to affordable, high-quality childcare shouldn’t depend on where you live,” Ms Smith said.

“Councils in rural and remote Queensland are stepping up to run childcare services because without them, families simply couldn’t stay and work in their towns.

“But they’re doing this in the face of complex regulations, workforce shortages, and funding models that were never designed for the realities of the bush.”

Queensland councils are calling on the Federal Government to review current childcare regulations to develop fit-for-purpose training, compliance and staffing models for rural and remote areas, ensuring any future reforms do not undermine the viability of existing services.

While also seeking adequate, flexible, supply-side funding and a dedicated rural workforce strategy to support councils that are carrying the financial burden of childcare service delivery in remote Queensland.

Paroo Shire Council Mayor Suzette Beresford said childcare is an essential service for families in rural and remote communities, but the current one-size-fits-all regulations simply don’t work for us.

“We are not asking for lower standards, we are asking for practical, fit-for-purpose rules that recognise the realities of operating in small, isolated towns.” Mayor Beresford said.

Winton Shire Council operates Little Swaggies Child Care Centre, the only long-day-care service in the shire, at a net cost of more than $1 million over the past three years, a cost the council says is unsustainable without government support.

Winton Shire Council Mayor Cathy White said that childcare is not a luxury, it is essential infrastructure.

“Without reliable, affordable childcare, families can’t work, businesses can’t thrive, and our population continues to decline,” Mayor White said.

“Councils like ours can’t keep filling the gap left by funding models that don’t work in the bush.”

Queensland councils have called on for tailored government policy, including: 

  • Supply-side funding and direct operational support for councils in market-failure areas;
  •  Streamlined, fit-for-purpose regulations and training frameworks for rural and remote childcare;
  • A national rural and remote workforce strategy to attract and retain qualified educators; and
  • Assurance that new reforms do not further disadvantage small regional and remote services. 

Ms Smith said childcare in remote Queensland is as essential as roads, water and power, keeps families in towns, supports the local economies, and gives children the best start in life.

“We’re calling for the Federal Government to work with councils and the State Government to deliver sustainable, equitable solutions that ensure no community misses out.” Ms Smith said.

For more information, please contact:

Dan Knowles, Media Advisor

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