VIC child care open during lock down

Please note: some of the content in this article relates to changes made by Government to reflect the impact of COVID-19 and may no longer be applicable.  

With the reintroduction of a six-week stage three lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne, and the Mitchell Shire, from midnight 7 July, following further outbreaks of COVID-19, the Minister for Education has confirmed early education and care services will remain open.

Dan Tehan also said that ‘gap’ fee waivers will be extended to families directly impacted by COVID-19.

“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.  It also provides certainty to families that they will retain enrolment at the child care service and will ensure child care services maintain their enrolments and continue to be paid the CCS, even if a child is absent for a COVID-related reason,” he said. 

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has reimposed the level three restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 after an ‘unacceptably’ high number of new cases.

The lockdown means residents in affected areas can only leave their homes for:

• Shopping for food and supplies
• Medical care and caregiving
• Exercise and recreation
• Study and work – if unable to be done from home

Thirty one Victorian municipalities are impacted by the new restrictions; Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra and Yarra Ranges.