Continued kinder fee relief good for children, service providers and parents

ELAA welcomes today’s announcement by the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, and Education Minister, James Merlino of $26.7 million in additional funding for Victorian sessional kindergarten. (more…)

Government lifeline to childcare is welcome but more may be required

“We greatly appreciate that the Australian Government is trying to throw providers a lifeline, save jobs, and free up permitted workers to do their work but these new arrangements are complicated and we may still have childcare providers that fall through the cracks – the question is just how many,” says ELAA CEO, David Worland. (more…)

Second wave in Victoria changes the game for childcare nationally

As Victoria scrambles to adjust to stage four restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and the return of stage three restrictions elsewhere, the question of how to keep the childcare sector afloat remains a national one. (more…)

Extension to Vic kindergarten fee relief welcome but not without risks

ELAA welcomes the announcement by Victorian Minister for Education, James Merlino, of an extension of sessional kindergarten fee relief into Term 3. “The relief payment of $230 per child for the next term will certainly help parents and give services a degree of financial stability although the effectiveness of this support will depend on COVID-19 infection rates and economic conditions trending in the right direction,” said ELAA CEO David Worland.

Read the full media release

Rollback of free childcare bets on swift economic recovery and no second pandemic wave

Today’s announcement by the Federal Government to roll back the Childcare Relief Package re-introduces affordability issues for Australian families and could also compromise the financial viability of early childhood education and care providers should the economic outlook worsen or the nation experience further significant COVID-19 related disruption. (more…)

Response to Relief Package review needs to address the big question

The Morrison Government’s response to the four-week review of its Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package brings some welcome extra relief for some services but leaves the big question unanswered – will the relief package continue beyond 28 June? (more…)

Extra cleaning and hygiene funding for kinders is great but more needed

ELAA welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement of new funding grants to assist funded kindergarten services with cleaning and hygiene costs in Term 2 but looks forward to the grant period being extended and expanded to a wider selection of early childhood education and care services. (more…)

Free sessional kinder in Victoria is just what the doctor ordered

This morning’s announcement by Victorian Minister for Education, James Merlino, of $45 million in extra funding to provide parents with free kindergarten during Term 2 represents a necessary and common-sense response from the Victorian Government. (more…)

Early Childhood sector welcomes Commonwealth relief but now looks to States to bridge kinder gap

ELAA welcomes the announcement of the Commonwealth Government’s Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package that enables families to stay enrolled with their chosen childcare provider during the coronavirus (COVID 19) emergency. (more…)

Governments need to work together to avert the collapse of the early childhood education and care sector

The coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic has proved a massive disruptor to Australia’s early childhood education and care sector, with increasing service closures, reduced attendance and immediate financial insolvency risks for many service providers. These trends are hugely concerning to an already under-valued early childhood workforce that is facing the prospect of unemployment unless financial support to service providers is made available immediately. (more…)