Rules on childcare clarified after widespread confusion

Support payments have been unveiled for childcare providers as new Covid rules come into effect. All your questions answered.

A federal rescue package will keep childcare services open and help ensure parents won’t have to pay for childcare they’re not using.

The fortnightly support payments for services come as a state-based permit system restricts childcare users to essential workers and vulnerable children from Tuesday.

Only one parent needs to be a permitted worker to qualify.

However, staff warned on Monday they won’t police permits or turn away parents who do not have one.

Elizabeth Death, from the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia, said if parents needed care, they will be welcomed by staff regardless of the permit system.

“Who knows what’s going on in people’s families?” she said.

“We support the tougher restrictions but we will be taking permits at face value. It’s the parents’ responsibility to ensure their validity, not our staff.”

The federal bailout package announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison is only available to centres in hotspot areas that have attendance of less than 50 per cent. They must also waive gap payments, keep staff employed and freeze fees.

Kids and Co childcare workers Emma Dimarco, Tari Klisaris and Sherry Gan with Kiera and Violet, both 4. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Until now, some centres had signalled parents would have to pay gap payments, even if their children weren’t attending.

The new assistance package means childcare services will receive 25 per cent of their pre-lockdown revenue, while outside school hours care services will be eligible for payments of 40 per cent.

The PM said almost 900 providers in Melbourne would immediately benefit from the new package.

“The childcare and early education sector is critically important for Australian families and our economy, and these payments will help keep services open and staff ­employed,” Mr Morrison said.

Goodstart Early Learning spokesman John Cherry said the decision meant fees could be waived and wages paid.

“This additional federal support better aligns childcare funding with the public health objectives of minimising families attending centres,” he said.

Australian Childcare Alliance president Paul Mondo said it would mean “early learning services, struggling the most from lockdowns, can keep the lights on and still be there for families on the other side of this terrible pandemic”.

Georgie Dent, from The Parenthood, welcomed the move “as a vital emergency support for early childhood education and care services”.

United Workers Union early childhood director Helen Gibbons said the announcement was a “welcome relief for many – but the fine print has no guarantees this funding will be used as intended”.

“Employers need to stand up and commit to using this new funding to support workers’ income and employment,” she said.

Tari Klisaris, from Docklands childcare centre Kids & Co, welcomed the support package but said the “devil will be in the detail”.