17 AugUpdated – Increased Vic COVID-19 restrictions: worker permits & gap fee waivers
On Monday 16 August the Premier of Victoria announced further restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne as part of the plan to manage the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. From 11.59pm, Tuesday 17 August permits are needed for the authorised workforce including early childhood education and care workforce.Details of permits are at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-permit
All early childhood education and care services continue to remain open for all children, including those of essential workers. Existing arrangements re vulnerable children and children of essential workers apply in out of school hours care. We will provide further details, for example regarding Bush Kinder, as they become available.
Yesterday, the Federal Education Minister also announced that child care services can waive gap fees in Commonwealth declared hotspots. Gap fee waiving helps parents keep their children enrolled without having to pay for a service they are not using. Where services choose to waive gap fees, they will continue to receive the Child Care Subsidy. More information about gap fee waivers can be found here: https://www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/announcements/gap-fees-waived-families-covid19-hotspots
ELAA is concerned about the sustainability of services waiving fees without financial support from the government to subsidise income foregone. We have been advocating to the Commonwealth for a sustainability package, and will continue to join with community peaks to push for support funding to ensure service viability.
ELAA will be surveying members providing Child Care Subsidy approved services in the coming week about changes to enrolments and whether your services will be applying a waiver to help inform our advocacy.
