National cabinet: Aussie childcare workers call for free rapid antigen tests

Stressed-out Aussie childcare workers are calling for urgent changes to protect kids from the ravages of the Omicron surge. Take our poll.

Stressed-out Aussie childcare workers are calling on national cabinet to intervene and put new measures in place to protect kids and employees from the ravages of the Omicron surge.

With more than 500 services closed and many running at reduced capacity, childcare centres across the country are struggling to deal with soaring levels of Covid-19 exposure.

Centres are being forced to temporarily close in regional areas, as well as the major cities, because either workers are sick or isolating.

The head of The Parenthood, a not-for-profit parent advocacy group with a reach of more than 68,000 parents, carers and supporters, said “inconsistent rules” had left educators and families “stranded”.

Executive director Georgie Dent said urgent intervention was needed to deliver clear guidelines and protocols for isolation requirements as well as free rapid antigen tests for educators and families.

The group is also calling for an 85 per cent subsidy guarantee to ensure educators can be paid, including those unable to work because of Covid-19 exposure.

Ms Dent said the importance of early learning to children — and the fact that children under five are not eligible to be vaccinated — meant urgent action was “absolutely critical”.

“We are calling on the federal government and national cabinet to provide the necessary support that will ensure early childhood education and care remains safe and viable. It’s of fundamental significance to the education and development of children, but also the continuity of essential services.

Georgie Dent says urgent action is needed to help childcare workers.

“When parents cannot access care for their children they cannot go to work. With the current workforce shortages around the country any further disruption is significant,” Ms Dent said.

“It is incredibly disappointing that services, educators and parents are once again left scrambling for certainty and begging for support.

“A national plan for supporting early education and care services, educators, families and children through this period is a critical and urgent imperative.”

More than 500 childcare centres have closed across Australia due to a health emergency.

A further 89 are shut due to a localised issue, including school holiday closures.

Care for Kids chief marketing officer, Lauren Simpson said last week that cases were impacting childcare all over Australia, including inner city and regional areas.

She said the pandemic was “forcing childcare centres to close due to the number of childcare workers being sick or waiting for test results”.

“Typically this is a quieter time of year for parents seeking care, adding extra pressure to childcare centres who are not always staffed to maximum capacity,” she said.

She said working families need access to quality childcare.

— with Julie Cross

Originally published as National cabinet: Aussie childcare workers call for free rapid antigen tests