Education Minister Dan Tehan has announced that child care support will be extended for Victorian families affected by the new six-week lockdown.
With the free child care due to end on Monday July 13th, the minister was under pressure to help families who suddenly find themselves under stay at home orders once again.
Under the new government measures, child care centres in Victorian areas where the lockdown is already in effect are able to waive the gap fee charged to parents if children are not attending due to the latest restrictions.
Effective from Monday July 13th, centre operators in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will still receive the government subsidies for children who are enrolled but not attending.
For the affected families, it means they can save money on the fees while their children are not attending child care, as well as securing their enrollment at the centre.
‘This means that if a child is absent from care for COVID-related reasons, the child care service can waive their gap fee which means more money in the family’s pocket,’ Mr Tehan said.
‘It also provides certainty to families that they will retain their enrolment at the child care service.’
In his statement, Mr Tehan states, ‘Our Government wants to ensure that child care services remain open for workers and vulnerable families who need those services.’
‘The Government will also ease the activity test until 4 October to support eligible families whose employment has been impacted as a result of COVID-19,’ said Mr Tehan.
‘These families will receive up to 100 hours per fortnight of subsidised care during this period. This will assist families to return to the level of work, study or training they were undertaking before COVID-19.’
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