Residents of Hopetoun, situated in Victoria’s north-west, have been without a childcare facility for over two years due to staffing shortages and damage to the premises. The Yarriambiack Shire Council has indicated that, without intervention from the state government, the community may continue to lack this essential service for an additional two years.
The mayor of the local council has expressed strong frustration regarding the insufficient support from the state government to address the problems affecting the early years childcare facility. Hopetoun, located approximately 400 kilometers northwest of Melbourne, lost its childcare service when the Hopetoun Uniting Early Learning center closed in April 2024 due to workforce shortages, which led the provider, Uniting Vic Tas, to halt operations.
In 2025, Emerge Early Years attempted to fill the gap by offering childcare and kindergarten services from a council-owned location, with plans to resume childcare services in 2026. Unfortunately, earlier this year, the center was forced to shut down after a burst water pipe resulted in significant structural damage.
The Mayor of Yarriambiack Shire, Andrew McLean, remarked, “The community was on the verge of regaining its childcare service when, unexpectedly, the council-owned building was deemed unsafe due to extensive water damage, mold, and structural issues.” Engineering assessments have revealed that the site requires major stabilization work, which could render it unusable for up to two years. According to Cr. McLean, the ground may need as much as 18 months to dry out before any repairs can begin, followed by additional weeks for completion after drying and compaction.
In the interim, kindergarten programs, which are distinct from childcare services, have been temporarily moved to the Hopetoun Senior Citizens building, displacing that facility’s regular users. “This temporary fix is at the expense of another valued community group and still fails to provide childcare for local families,” Cr. McLean noted. “We have 27 children enrolled in kindergarten this year and strong enrollment projections for the next year, alongside at least 15 families who expressed interest in childcare services before the anticipated reopening.”
The mayor labeled the situation as “completely unacceptable,” criticizing the state government for not sufficiently supporting rural communities and urging them to develop a new integrated early years facility in Hopetoun. He suggested either constructing a new facility on the Hopetoun P-12 College grounds or demolishing and rebuilding on the damaged site, with funding support from both the council’s insurance and the government.
“I am frankly outraged that a rural community has been left in this predicament,” he said. “It is unacceptable for our children, teachers, and educators to have to operate a kindergarten program from the Senior Citizens building for potentially two years.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Education stated that the department is currently supporting the ongoing kindergarten delivery in Hopetoun while the council manages repairs to the existing early years building. They added that while the responsibility for childcare funding lies with the Commonwealth, they have provided the council with options to ensure that the temporary kindergarten has necessary resources, including new play equipment and secure fencing.
Cr. McLean also expressed concern that the prolonged lack of childcare could adversely affect workforce participation and retention in the area, further threatening the community’s future. “When parents cannot access childcare, their ability to participate fully in the workforce is compromised, which in turn affects employers’ ability to recruit and retain staff,” he explained. “Poor quality kindergarten options may lead young families to seek opportunities elsewhere, creating significant ripple effects.”
Heather Sherwell, a resident of Beulah, shared her personal experience with the region’s childcare challenges, which have forced her partner to reduce his working hours and increased travel time for their family. She described the logistical difficulties they face, having to drive in opposite directions to drop off their children at different facilities.
Ms. Sherwell expressed a sense of defeat among parents in the community due to the ongoing childcare situation. “From an early learning perspective, this is affecting our children. The absence of peer relationships harms their basic play education,” she said. “The lack of infrastructure support and unfulfilled promises regarding programs is very disheartening.” She emphasized the need for government assistance in improving infrastructure and supporting early years staff.
Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has voiced her support for the community’s calls for a solution from the state government, but she too has been informed by the Department of Education that “there is no relocatable building” available at this time.
