Western Sydney families share childcare experiences in groundbreaking survey
Western Sydney University is inviting families from across the Western Sydney region to take part in a landmark new survey that measures childcare stress, a first in Australia.
Modelled on existing measures of household and financial stress such as mortgage and rental stress, the Childcare Stress Index provides policymakers with place-based evidence to see where the system is under pressure – and where new, fairer childcare models are needed.
Launched earlier this month at Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections in Warwick Farm, the Childcare Stress Index Survey aims to capture the pressures families face in accessing early childhood education and care. It is the first tool of its kind in Australia and is beginning its rollout in Western Sydney. The survey is available in English, Arabic, Vietnamese and Chinese languages to capture the differential experiences of diverse families.
Co-lead researcher Dr Angela Smith from University of New South Wales (UNSW), says that childcare stress is deeply shaped by where families live.
“In Western Sydney, childcare services are hard to access and unaffordable for many families. Alongside serious concerns about quality and safety, parents are faced with impossible choices,” said Dr Smith.
Co-lead Dr Jenna Condie, from the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University, added that for the most part, childcare has been treated as a private responsibility rather than an equity issue.
The launch event featured a keynote address from The Hon. Charishma Kaliyanda MP, Member for Liverpool, alongside community leaders and researchers. Attendees included representatives from local councils, community organisations, the childcare sector, and families.
The survey aims to highlight the voices of Western Sydney families and the urgent need for reform in how childcare is understood and supported across different communities.
The project is a collaboration between researchers from Western Sydney University, UNSW, and Monash University, and is funded by the Australian Public Policy Institute.
To find out more information about the project or to take part in the survey please, visit the Childcare Stress Project website.
ENDS
4 November 2025
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