10 SepCEO update 10 September 2020
- Vic roadmap to reopening implications for ECEC services
- Advocacy on transition payments, allowable absences and Vic fee relief
- RUOK?
Dear members and friends
Welcome to the final edition of eNews for Term 3. Many Victorian services will no doubt be watching the COVID-19 case numbers closely over the coming weeks as transmission target numbers are linked to enacting specific steps in the Victorian Government’s roadmap to re-opening Victoria within which are milestones for re-opening early childhood education (ECEC) services to the wider community. ELAA has summarised the key ‘roadmap’ information for services and you can read more about that HERE. We also have another live forum scheduled with the Acting Deputy Secretary (Early Childhood), Susan MacDonald, this coming Monday (14 September) which I encourage service providers to attend to hear the latest from Vic DET on how the State’s roadmap affects providers. During this session there will also be updates on ELAA’s current sector advocacy activities, implications for services with staff requiring leave without pay, plus a presentation from WorkSafe Victoria on compliance with COVID-safe workplace obligations. Find out more about the forum HERE.
While it is a very welcome sign to see case numbers in Victoria trend downwards, I think we all realise that the economic impacts of the control measures aimed at suppressing the virus will be felt for a very long time – even after community transmission reaches zero. With this in mind, ELAA is looking to the future when it comes to advocating to governments on behalf of early childhood education and care service providers. We have recently written to the Australian Education Minister, Dan Tehan, seeking the government’s commitment to two key items in respect of services and families impacting by the extended lockdown in Melbourne including extended transition payments for childcare services and extending allowable absences by 30 days. You can view our letter to Minister Tehan HERE .We’re also preparing our annual Budget Submission to the Victorian Government which will underline the need to continue targeted parent fee relief for Victorian Kindergarten programs.
Finally, today is RUOK Day and I encourage you to catch up with your teams and loved ones to remind them of the importance of looking out for each other’s mental health. The RUOK website provides some great resources and approaches to doing this and also reminds us that we need to keep ‘checking in’ with each other continually, not just on RUOK day.
Take care
David Worland
CEO
