The university tells parents that deficits at its childcare centres are no longer sustainable

The losses pre-date the pandemic and UNSW expects a $560 000 deficit this year and projects $600 000 next.

The 99-kid capacity Kanga’s House long-day centre is set to close, after 40 years. The other three facilities are put to tender.

UNSW assures staff with children at Kanga’s House that they will be able to “transition” to other centres this year as “vacancies arise” at the other centres, Tigger’s Honeypot, Owl’s House and the House at Pooh Corner. Kanga kids off to school in ’21 will see-out the year there.

If the university decides no tenderer is suitable then it will continue to run the centres. “In this scenario, UNSW will need to pursue alternative structural changes within our centres to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible, HR VP David Ward says.