Return to Child Care Subsidy
On Monday 13 July 2020, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) recommenced with the introduction of a number of new measures to support providers. The Early Childhood Education & Care Relief Package concluded on Sunday 12 July, 2020.
For more information, please visit the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.
COVID Safe Plan
FDCAQ has developed a Fact Sheet to assist Educators with developing a COVID Safe Plan, including a list of considerations Educators may wish to include.
Services and Educators are encouraged to download the following Fact Sheet to assist with your efforts in continuing to be COVID Safe.
Services and Educators are advised to download Fact Sheets to assist with the development of your COVID Safe planning.
Reporting & Managing Childrens’ Absences
Please download the following timeline for a guideline detailing how to report and manage childrens’ absences during the transition period.
Services Guideline – Reporting & Managing Childrens’ Absences
Members Meeting Presentations
FDCAQ Members Meeting Presentation I COVID-19 & Membership Update by Deb Tuckey, 29 September 2020
FDCAQ Members Meeting Presentation I COVID-19 by Jason de Bakker, 18 August 2020
FDCAQ Members Meeting Presentation I COVID-19 Resources and Membership Renewals by Jason de Bakker, 1 August 2020
COVID-19 Latest Links
Key resources from Family Day Care Queensland for Services, Educators and Families
COVID-19 Service Support Checklist
COVID-19 Educator Support Checklist
COVID-19 Families and Children Support Checklist
Medical Letter for General Practitioner
* High resolution copies of checklists can be emailed to Services, Educators and Families. Please email Emma.Beach@fdcqld.org to request a copy.
Key resources from Family Day Care Australia
Key resources from Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE)
COVID-19 Information for the ECEC Sector
Important Information for Parents
Early childhood education and care services are open.
As at 26 March 2020, most early childhood services and outside school hours care services are open as normal. A small number of services have temporarily closed at their discretion or on advice from Queensland Health. While we strongly encourage you to contact your service directly, the Department of Education emergency closure portal also provides information about early childhood education and care closures.
Is it safe for your children to attend early childhood and education services.
The health of Queenslanders is our priority. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice is that pre-emptive closures are not proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time. AHPPC considers all childcare services essential. Services are advised to remain open at this time, but with risk mitigation measures in place.
These should include:
– exclusion of unwell staff, children and visitors
– enhanced personal hygiene for children, staff and parents
– full adherence to the NHMRC childcare cleaning guidelines
– local excursions are no longer permitted
– influenza vaccination for children, staff and parents
*Please visit the COVID-19 information for families and services operation page on the department’s website for more information, including links to health agencies.
Important Contacts
For any ECEC COVID-19 related enquiries please phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or email ECEC.COVID19@qed.qld.gov.au
Coronavirus Health Information Line – 1800 020 080
Health advice over the phone – 13 HEALTH / 13 432584
If you have any questions regarding your child’s care, your service’s requirements or associated COVID-19 implications, please contact us on 3399 3737.
FAQs – Managing FDC Services During COVID-19
Additional Financial Viability Assistance
JOBKEEPER PAYMENTS
JobKeepers payments are designed to assist services pay staff, and for Educators (as sole Traders) to maintain their income. Both services and Educators may be eligible for JobKeeper payments. For additional support for small businesses and sole traders go to: treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses
Q: Who can apply for JobKeeper?
A: Both services and Educators may be eligible for JobKeeper payments. Services and Educators are encouraged to register for JobKeeper. Educators must register independently from their service.
Q: How much is the JobKeeper payment?
A: Eligible services will receive $1,500 per fortnight for each staff member who meets the eligibility criteria. This is to assist with staff wages. Eligible Educators will receive $1,500 per fortnight to boost their income.
Q: Where do I register for JobKeeper?
A: For more information and to apply for the JobKeeper payment please visit: ato.gov.au
Q: What if the Educator does not have an ABN?
A: If the Educator has not obtained an ABN prior to 12 March 2020 they will not be eligible for JobKeeper payments. Services may consider providing evidence of this to support their application for Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment.
Q: I have questions that relate to JobKeeper suitability, who can I contact?
A: Your best contact is the CCS Helpdesk via ccshelpdesk@dese.gov.au or phone 1300 667 276
Q: When will JobKeeper be paid?
A: The first week in May.
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT
Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment is considered a ‘top up’ in addition to the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, already being paid to services. Before applying, services are encouraged to consider what they are already receiving, including JobKeeper payments, to determine if they can already remain viable without additional help.
Q: Who can apply for Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment?
A: The service provider.
Q: Where do services apply for Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payments?
A: The form is available at dese.gov.au/covid-19/childhood
Q: What advice is there for completing the application?
A: Services are encouraged to take care to ensure the application is completed correctly and adequate evidence is provided.
- Include: Name, Service Provider Number, Customer Reference Number (CRN) and PRODA ID.
- Evidence of increased attendances, including the number of ‘at risk’ children attending.
Q: What if my service had reduced number of care hours during the reference week?
A: Services can apply for Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment. Services should ensure they include evidence to support the application including information about attendances (this can be gained from your third-party software):
- Enrolments
- ID’s
- Attended hours
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- Services MUST redact or black out personal information about parents or children, reference numbers, DOBs, names etc, on the copy provided to the Department.
- Services MUST keep a complete (non redacted) copy for their records.
Q: What if my income goes up due to receiving additional financial assistance?
A: Providers must tell the department if their income goes up due to receiving extra state or government assistance. Please provide details regarding this additional support to ECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au Ensure you note the relevant application ID number in the email subject header.
Where to find current and accurate information
Australian Government Department of Health
24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment
Childcare Subsidy Help Desk:
Online Form
E: ccshelpdesk@dese.gov.au
JobKeeper payment or other financial assistance
Latest Australian Government COVID-19 news, updates and advice www.australia.gov.au
Latest Resources
Family Day Care Association Queensland has compiled a comprehensive list of information, links and resources to assist families. We encourage parents and Educators to review the following resources to ensure you are up to date on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic:
COVID-19 multi-lingual resources_31.03.20
Emerging Minds – Supporting children and Educators during the COVID-19 outbreak_01.04.20
Be You – COVID-19: Supporting early learning communities_01.04.20
Raising Children – COVID-19 and children in Australia_01.04.20
UNICEF Australia – How to talk to your children about COVID-19_01.04.20
Autism Association of Western Australia – Social Stories_01.04.20
SBS Insight – 8 tips on what to tell your kids about coronavirus_01.04.20
Coronavirus and Kids: Resources from Save the Children (USA)_01.04.20
Zero to Three – COVID-19 Tips for Families (USA)_01.04.20
World Health Organisation_Helping children cope with the stress of COVID-19 (Poster)_01.04.20
Nathan Wallis, International Neuroscience and Presenter – Coronavirus and Anxiety (NZ)_24.03.20