threatening support for families dealing with illness, remote living and complex circumstances. Australia’s in-home childcare sector is under growing financial pressure after being left out of a government-funded worker retention payment designed to offset educator wage increases. According to the Australian Home Childcare Association, none of the country’s 23 remaining operators consider themselves financially viable, with nearly one-third at risk of closure. More than 70 per cent of providers report that families are reducing hours or withdrawing because they cannot afford higher fees, while many educators are seeing reduced work or leaving the sector altogether. In-home care supports families who live in remote areas, work irregular hours, or have children with serious medical conditions or child protection needs. In Lara, mother Ashley Perez relies on the service to provide safe education for her daughters Emilia and Alyssa as they undergo treatment for Leukemia. She says access to in-home care helps protect the girls from infections while maintaining their learning and emotional wellbeing. Families and sector representatives are urging the federal government to take immediate action, warning that without support, some of Australia’s most vulnerable children could lose access to essential care and education.