We, the undersigned, call on the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to commit to ongoing, long-term funding for UTS Child Care beyond its current funding deadline of the end of 2027.

For nearly 40 years, UTS Child Care has been a cornerstone of support for the UTS community. Offering high-quality, local, and subsidised early education and care, it has enabled countless staff and student parents to return to work, complete their studies, and fully participate in university life. However, despite its essential role, its future remains uncertain and precarious.

UTS Child Care is not a temporary service—it is a lifeline. It allows staff to carry out their professional responsibilities with confidence, knowing their children are cared for in a nurturing and stimulating environment. At the same time, it empowers student parents to attend classes, complete assessments, and succeed academically, without the constant burden of childcare insecurity.

Yet the current commitment to fund UTS Child Care only until the end of 2027 creates deep instability. Without a clear, long-term guarantee:

• Families face the real risk of losing access to affordable, trusted care
• Staff and students are forced into uncertainty about their ability to work and study
• The service itself is unable to plan, grow, or sustain the quality of care it provides

The real issue is not access to childcare places, but whether UTS families have access to childcare that is both affordable and of exceptional quality. The loss—or weakening—of this service would have immediate and lasting impacts on equity, participation, and wellbeing across the UTS community.

The continuation of UTS Child Care is fundamental not only to individual families, but to UTS’s broader commitment to inclusion, diversity, and community wellbeing. UTS has long positioned itself as an innovative, forward-thinking institution that recognises the diverse needs of its community. A short-term funding model contradicts these values.

If UTS is serious about equity and access, then its investment must reflect the reality that childcare is not a short-term need—it is an ongoing necessity.

By committing to secure, recurrent funding beyond 2027, UTS would:

• Provide stability and certainty for staff, students, and their families
• Protect access to essential services that enable participation in work and study
• Uphold its leadership in social impact, equity, and community engagement
• Invest in the wellbeing and development of future generations

We therefore urge UTS to:

• Commit to long-term, ongoing funding for UTS Child Care beyond 2027
• Provide clear and transparent communication about the service’s future
• Ensure that no member of the UTS community is forced to choose between education, employment, and caregiving responsibilities
• This is not simply about extending funding—it is about safeguarding a vital, decades-long support system that underpins the success and wellbeing of the UTS community.

The time for short-term commitments has passed. UTS must act now to guarantee the long-term future of UTS Child Care.

Sign this petition to stand with staff, students, and families—and to secure childcare that our community can rely on, not just until 2027, but for years to come.