Public Holiday Changes in WA: A Parent’s Guide and How Stride Early Learning Is Helping

Western Australia’s public holiday calendar is about to shift, and as a parent, you might be wondering what it means for your family. A recent WA Government review has proposed major changes to the public holiday system, aiming to better align with the rest of Australia and even add new holidays. More days off can be great for quality family time, but they can also raise questions about childcare arrangements and costs. Here is what is changing, how it might affect your childcare arrangements, and the way Stride Early Learning’s new Holiday Fees Policy is supporting WA families.

Big Changes to WA’s Public Holidays, What’s New?

This year, the WA Government held a public consultation on updating the State’s public holidays, and over 10,000 people had their say. The result is a set of proposed changes, outlined in the Public and Bank Holidays Amendment Bill 2025, that would revamp WA’s public holiday schedule from 2028 onwards. Here are the key changes parents should know about:

• Labour Day: Moving from the first Monday in March to the second Monday in March (and to the third Monday in March during State election years). This change avoids elections falling on a long weekend.
• WA Day: Moving from the first Monday in June to the second Monday in November. (Yes, WA Day would shift from winter to springtime!)
• King’s Birthday: Moving from its current late September/early October timing to the second Monday in June, aligning WA with other states that celebrate the monarch’s birthday in June.
• Easter Saturday: New public holiday. Easter Saturday will be officially recognised as a public holiday (replacing an extra weekday holiday that was previously given in lieu).
• “Show Day”: New public holiday. A Show Day holiday will fall on the first Monday of the September/October school holidays, creating a long weekend for families during the spring school break

In total, WA would gain two new public holidays (Easter Saturday and Show Day) and see three existing ones rescheduled. These changes, according to the Government, are designed to “better align WA’s public holidays with the rest of the country, support economic activity and productivity, and celebrate Western Australia’s spirit, diverse culture and community achievements”. Importantly, if the legislation passes, the new timetable won’t kick in until 2028, giving everyone time to adjust.

What Do These Changes Mean for Families?

For many parents, public holidays are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they often mean extra time with your children, whether it’s enjoying community events on the new Show Day, taking a mini-vacation over a long weekend, or just having a bonus family day at home. On the other hand, they can disrupt routines and create childcare challenges. Here are a few impacts to consider:

Juggling Work and Care: If you or your partner doesn’t get a particular public holiday off work, a day when schools and childcare centres are closed can require alternative care plans. More public holidays (like the proposed Show Day) might mean more instances of arranging a babysitter or swapping shifts with a partner. It’s great to have that day with your children if you can, but not all jobs pause for public holidays; some parents in healthcare, hospitality, retail, and other sectors may still be on duty. Extra holidays can equal extra planning for these families.

Long Weekends and Travel: The changes create new long weekends at different times of year. WA Day moving to November means a new spring long weekend, and shifting the King’s Birthday to June ensures a break as winter starts. Families might take advantage of these for trips to see relatives or a short getaway. (And having WA’s holidays align with other states could make interstate family catch-ups easier to plan) However, planning a holiday with children often means coordinating with childcare schedules, and that leads to the next point.

Childcare Scheduling and Costs: If your young child is in daycare or early learning, public holidays typically mean the centre is closed. But did you know that most childcare centres still charge you for that day, even when they’re closed? In Australia, it’s standard practice to charge full fees when a child is absent, whether due to a public holiday closure or a family vacation. This policy ensures staff are paid and your child’s spot is secured, but for parents, it can feel frustrating, paying for a day of care you can’t actually use. With rising costs of living, every dollar matters (link)  and paying full fees on a public holiday (or paying when you take your child out for a week’s holiday) can put pressure on the family budget.

Imagine this scenario: It’s 2028, and WA has its new Show Day public holiday on a Monday. If your toddler normally attends daycare on Mondays, you’d have to keep them home because the centre is closed, yet without special provisions, you might still be billed for that day. Over a year, additional public holidays or shifted dates could mean several instances of paying for unused care. Similarly, if you decide to take advantage of the new November long weekend by going on a week-long family trip, many centres would still charge you for the days your child is away. These hidden costs can add up, effectively making childcare even more expensive at a time when family budgets are already stretched.

To put it in perspective, the average cost of childcare in Australia is around $135 a day before subsidies, and in Perth’s metro areas, it can climb to $150–$170+ per day. For a lot of families, that’s one of the biggest weekly expenses. Having to pay for a day when your child isn’t in care (because it’s a public holiday, or because you’re away on holiday) can feel like throwing money away. No parent likes seeing fees go out while the kiddo is at home with them.

So, while the new public holidays are welcome news for family time, they also highlight a need for flexibility in the childcare system. Parents are increasingly asking: “Do I still have to pay for childcare if my child doesn’t attend?” or “What happens to my fees if a booked day falls on a public holiday?” Traditionally, the answer at most centres has been “yes, you still pay”.

Thankfully, one WA childcare provider is taking a different approach. Stride Early Learning saw these concerns and decided it was time for a change in the industry standard.

Stride Early Learning’s Holiday Policy, Flexibility and Fairness for Families

Stride Early Learning (with centres across WA) has introduced a Holiday Fees Policy that is a game-changer for parents. In short, Stride doesn’t believe you should be penalised for enjoying holidays or forced to pay for care you can’t use. As Stride puts it, “we believe childcare should work around your family, not the other way around.” Here’s how their family-friendly, forward-thinking policy works:

• 50% Discount on Fees for Planned Holiday Absences: If you’re planning a family trip or need to take your child out of care for a few days, you won’t pay full fees. When your child will be away for two or more consecutive days, simply submit a Holiday Notification (an easy online form) with at least 2 weeks’ notice, and you’ll receive 50% off your normal childcare fees for those days. This discount can be used for up to 4 weeks per year, so families can actually plan extended breaks without paying double for childcare they’re not using. It’s essentially half-price childcare while you’re on holiday, giving your wallet a break too.
• Free Replacement Days for Public Holidays: If a public holiday falls on a day your child is usually enrolled (like that future Show Day Monday, or Australia Day, etc.), Stride gives you a free “make-up” day. In practice, that means you can arrange for your child to attend on a different day, at no extra cost, within four weeks of the public holiday. No more losing out on a day of paid care; you get to replace it, free of charge. This is a huge relief for working parents who need those childcare days. Instead of paying for Monday when the centre was closed, you might book your child for the following Tuesday (subject to availability) without paying anything extra. It’s all about fairness, you shouldn’t pay for a service you can’t use, and Stride recognises that.
• Simple Process, Just Two Weeks’ Notice via Online Form: Accessing these benefits is straightforward. Whether you’re planning a vacation or know in advance about a public holiday, all Stride asks is to fill out a quick online form two weeks ahead of your child’s absence. There’s no complicated paperwork or long waiting period. This kind of streamlined, user-friendly approach means busy parents can easily take advantage of the policy. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, it’s designed to be simple and hassle-free, a far cry from the bureaucracy one might expect.

Stride’s Holiday Fees Policy was designed with families in mind, and it shows. “We designed this policy with one thing in mind: helping families feel supported, not penalised, when life takes them away from care,” the team at Stride explains. In other words, they get it: families need flexibility. Children don’t stop getting sick, or grandparents won’t stop inviting you to visit, just because you’ve booked daycare, and public holidays shouldn’t mean you lose out financially. By offering more control, less stress, and real savings, Stride is setting a new standard in early education.

For many parents, policies like this are a game-changer. In fact, some families have reported that knowing they won’t be out-of-pocket for missed days is “the deciding factor when choosing where to enrol. It’s not hard to see why, in a climate of rising costs, a little fairness goes a long way. Stride’s approach directly addresses cost-of-living pressures: by cutting fees in half during your holidays and giving back missed public holiday days, they’re effectively putting money back into parents’ pockets. As one Stride article put it, “with the rising cost of living, every dollar matters”

Supporting Families Through Change: A New Benchmark for Childcare

 

The WA Government’s public holiday shake-up is ultimately about improving life for Western Australians, boosting family time, community celebration, and economic productivity. Stride Early Learning is taking that spirit and running with it in the realm of early childhood education. By advocating for flexibility and fairness, Stride is showing how childcare providers can innovate to meet families’ needs in changing times.

Think about what this means by 2028: Western Australia will have a couple more public holidays and different long weekends. Thanks to Stride’s policy, WA parents can embrace those new holidays without the usual worries about childcare fees. Planning a camping trip over the new September Show Day weekend? You can enjoy it knowing you’ll get a 50% fee break for those days your child is absent. Worried about losing a paid day of care on WA Day’s new date? With Stride, you’ll simply book a free replacement session for your little one. These are practical solutions that make family life just a bit easier, and who wouldn’t welcome that?

Stride’s family-first stance also sends a message to the broader industry: it is possible to put families at the centre of policy. As advocates for early learning accessibility, Stride understands that when parents are supported, children benefit too. Less financial strain and stress on parents often means a happier home environment for the child. Plus, the flexibility to take breaks or enjoy public holidays together can strengthen family bonds and give children enriching experiences (like going to that Royal Show on the new Show Day!). In a sense, Stride Early Learning is leading by example, inviting other centres to consider similar measures that promote fairness in early education.

Experience the Stride Difference. 

Stride Early Learning’s innovative Holiday Fees Policy is just one part of how they support WA families. From high-quality early education programmes to policies that ease the cost of childcare, Stride is proving to be a true partner for parents in these challenging economic times. If you’re a parent in Western Australia feeling the pinch of childcare costs, or simply looking for a centre that really understands family needs, it might be time to see what Stride can offer your family.

Find out for yourself why more parents are switching to Stride. We invite you to book a tour at your local WA-based Stride Early Learning centre or reach out to our friendly team to learn more. Come meet our educators, see our vibrant facilities, and discover how we’re making childcare more flexible, affordable, and family-oriented. After all, taking a break shouldn’t mean wasting money, and with Stride, it doesn’t.

Contact your nearest Stride Early Learning centre today to explore a better childcare experience. Because when it comes to supporting families through change, Stride is with you every step of the way, turning those new public holidays (and every day) into opportunities for your family to thrive.

Sources:

1. Government of Western Australia, Public holiday review (Proposed changes to WA’s public holiday schedule). 
2. Stride Early Learning, “Do You Still Pay for Childcare When You’re on Holidays? Here’s a Better Way.” (Stride Holiday Fees Policy announcement).
3. Finder (Care for Kids data), Average cost of childcare in Australia, finder.com.au – context on childcare costs.