Controversy as QLD storms wreak havoc on childcare

“It was a low blow considering we were still dealing with the effects of the storm ourselves, and then being hit with daycare fees when we couldn’t even send the kids.”

It’s been a wild fortnight for families in Southeast Queensland, with region-wide storms on Christmas night wreaking havoc and plunging tens of thousands of homes across the state into a several-day power-outage.

While at one stage electricity provider Energex estimates around 130,000 homes were without power and around 11,000 were yet to be reconnected as of last week, several days of heavy rain and flash-flooding further exacerbated the damage, with a number of early education and childcare facilities across the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim areas forced to shut their doors. 

Another unwelcome surprise came for many parents when they discovered that their centres had charged them for the days they were unable to open.

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“I was pretty shocked,” recalls Tugan mother-of-three Vanessa, “our centre closed for three days due to a power outage but still charged us for the days we missed.”

“It was a low blow considering we were still dealing with the effects of the storm ourselves, having to throw out hundreds of dollars worth of food from the fridge and then being hit with daycare fees when we couldn’t even send the kids.”

Several parents who queried the charges with centre management received correspondence explaining they were looking into reversing the fees, while others were told that unless insurance or funding came through, there would be no reimbursement. 

RELATED: 'It looked like a war zone': Family left homeless after QLD storms

The QLD storms caused havoc in the southeastern part of the state.

"Waiving the fee is a business decision for providers"

The Australian Government Department of Education has declared a Childcare Subsidy (CCS) Period of Emergency in three separate Queensland councils - Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council.

This means centres can continue to get CCS if their service closes as a direct result of the emergency, and can waive the gap fee if a child doesn’t attend, or if the service is closed during the emergency. It also means families will get unlimited allowable absences for the duration of the period of emergency. 

A spokesperson for the Department explained that while the period of emergency allowed centres to waive the CCS gap fee for families affected, it was ultimately their decision as to whether or not to pass this on.

“Waiving the gap fee is a business decision for providers,” they told Kidspot. 

“The Australian Government encourages providers to consider the impact of their charging practices on families under these circumstances. Where a gap fee is waived, the provider still receives Child Care Subsidy for children who are normally in care, but the family does not have to pay the gap fee.

“Child Care Subsidy Period of emergency arrangements help services to remain viable when children are prevented from attending care or it is hazardous to do so.”

As a result, several centres have since issued reimbursements to parents who were charged.

RELATED: Heartbreaking tributes for 9yo girl swept away in Queensland floods

The aftermath of intense Christmas Day storms in the Gold Coast suburb of Runaway Bay. Photo: Blake Loftus Cloke

"I don't think they should charge"

On social media, opinions were divided.

“I don’t think they should charge,” wrote one commenter in a popular Gold Coast parenting group “their insurance should cover their building costs plus their financial loss.”

“I’m assuming their staff would still be getting paid, so it would be just like public holidays, which usually we’re still charged for,” argued another. 

Soraya, a single mum from the Gold Coast, says she’s yet to hear whether her centre is going to reimburse her for the charges across the week-and-a-half it remained closed, forcing her to find alternative care for her 15-month-old son. 

“I actually disagree with centres charging for public holidays as well,” she says, “I understand they have to pay staff, but a large portion of their workforce is on casual wages, and other businesses that close on public holidays don’t charge the public when they can’t use the service. I know a lot of people disagree with me, but at the end of the day I think, like all businesses, some centres are trying to do the right thing, and some are only in it for the money, not for the families they are supposed to support.”

Originally published as Controversy as QLD storms wreak havoc on childcare