Fairer Childcare for Alpine Families

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In 2025, Alpine Shire Council renegotiated its lease with Alpine Children’s Services (ACS) through a closed process, resulting in ACS remaining the sole long day care provider in the region.

In 2026, shortly after this arrangement was renewed, ACS significantly increased its fees. For many local families, these rising costs have placed childcare out of reach and created real financial pressure.

Alpine Children’s Services plays an important role in our community, and families value the care and education it provides. However, having only one long day care provider in the region limits choice for families and removes the opportunity for healthy competition that can help keep services affordable, accessible and responsive to community needs.

Families in Alpine Shire deserve access to childcare that is both high quality and affordable. When only one provider is able to operate in the local market, families have little option if fees rise beyond what they can manage. In a regional area where many households are already balancing cost-of-living pressures, this lack of choice has serious consequences for parents, children and workforce participation.

We are calling on Alpine Shire Council to review its current approach to childcare service provision and consider opportunities for additional providers to operate within the shire. A more open and competitive childcare landscape would give families greater choice and help ensure childcare remains accessible for the whole community.

We urge Alpine Shire Council to:

• review the exclusive childcare lease arrangement currently in place
• provide greater transparency about how childcare service decisions are made
• explore opportunities for additional childcare providers to operate in the Alpine Shire
• prioritise affordability, accessibility and quality in future childcare planning

Every family in our community deserves access to safe, high-quality childcare at a fair and reasonable cost.

Please sign this petition to support a fairer childcare system for Alpine families.