Three weeks of lockdown ‘too long to wait’ for childcare relief: mum

Parents forced to work at home with their children have slammed a federal government scheme for childcare relief which only kicks in after three weeks of lockdown.

Mum Megan Verry says parents should not have to pay the full price of child care while they are in lockdown with their kids.

Parents forced to work at home with their children have slammed a federal government scheme for childcare relief which only kicks in after three weeks of lockdown.

The federal government is being urged to speed up relief payments for parents forced to pay full fees for child care even though their children are at home during the lockdown.

Under national directives, federal childcare relief only kicks in after three weeks of lockdown with some working parents left hundreds of dollars out of pocket but still minding their children at home.

Under a state directive, only children of essential services workers can attend school or childcare. All others must remain at home during the lockdown if their parents are working from home.

Parents who want to stay enrolled in child care must continue to pay the full price, even if their income has been affected and their child remains at home.

Working mum-of-two Megan Verry said she was still paying $215 a week for two-and-a-half days of child care for her two children, even though they were both at home.

Working mum Megan Verry is still paying full price for her two children to attend a childcare centre even though they are in lockdown.

“It’s very hard but I believe in doing the right thing and keeping them at home to get through this pandemic,” Mrs Verry said.

“I should not be penalised for it and the federal government should act faster in providing stay-at-home workers relief by waiving the gap fee.”

Under the current national system, the federal government pays about two thirds of the cost of child care to a centre and the rest is paid by parents.

Education, care service and kindergarten owner at a Wellington Point centre said she had been asked by parents if Queensland would follow New South Wales and waiver the gap in fees, which are adjusted in line with parents’ income.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said her families were “stressed and anxious” about the financial toll the eight-day lockdown was having.

“I feel if there is some financial relief for families it would relieve some of the anxiety and stress our families are facing,” she said.

“The demands on expected work arrangements are difficult enough and then to perform these duties while caring for children seems unreasonable.”

Federal MP Andrew Laming said people needed the relief now – not in three weeks’ time.

“Childcare centres are still getting the same 67 per cent of their payments from the government even in lockdown but should parents pay full price when they are not using the service,” he said.

“Some parents should be sending their kids to child care because they are essential workers but they think that because they are working from home they have to keep their kids at home.

“Other cases are genuine stay-at-home parents who are now being charged full cost even though their kids are at home and there is no discount.”