Early Childhood and Care Relief Package

The Federal Government has announced an Early Childhood and Care Relief Package, which will provide funding to around 13,000 childcare facilities so that they can remain open and offer free childcare to families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the package, the Commonwealth will pay for 50% of the child care sector’s fee revenue up to the existing hourly rate cap, but only if their services remain open and they do not charge families for care. The funding will apply from Monday, 6 April and will be based on the number of children who were in care during the fortnight leading into Monday, 2 March. Even though childcare facilities must seek to re-enrol parents who have recently removed their kids from childcare, funding will be provided regardless of whether or not children who were enrolled as of Monday, 2 March are still attending childcare facilities.

For more information, view the Prime Minister's media statement.