LIVE WEBINARS EXPLAINING THE ECEC RELIEF PACKAGE, JOBKEEPER PAYMENTS, PAYG CASH GRANTS & SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDING:

1. Friday, 3 April 2020 (webinar) - DONE
2. Monday, 6 April 2020 (webinar @ 10.30 am) - DONE
3. Monday, 6 April 2020 (originally Newcastle, now webinar) - DONE
4. Wednesday, 8 April 2020 (webinar @ 10.30 am) - DONE
5. Wednesday, 8 April 2020 (webinar @ 2.00 pm) - DONE
6. Thursday, 9 April 2020 (webinar @ 10.30 am) - DONE
7. Tuesday, 14 April 2020 (webinar @ 10.30 am) - DONE
8. Thursday, 16 April 2020 (webinar @ 10.30 am) - DONE

PUBLISHED: 1 APRIL 2020
UPDATED: 17 APRIL 2020

Dear members of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW,

As this extraordinary situation continues to evolve, we are doing everything we can to support and assist our members, your children and families, and provide the services you have come to rely on.

At the same time, we are responding as quickly as possible by changing what and how we do to keep ACA NSW’s staff and members safe and served.

We are registered as a COVIDsafe organisation

In accordance with public health requirements, we are registered with the NSW Government as a COVIDsafe organisation. Our COVID-19 Safety Plan means that if/when you visit our premises, we will ask that you register your contact details for the purposes of contact tracing. This will help ensure the health, safety and well-being of our employees and our guests and visitors.

We are keeping it clean & practising good hygiene

• We are asking you to continue to transact electronically with ACA NSW to avoid cash handling.
• We encourage you to continue leveraging our on-line platforms (our website and social media) to keep abreast of new information.
• If you must come to the ACA NSW office, please advise us in advance. Upon arrival, we will be recording your name, contact details and temperature while observing the social distancing protocols.

We are still happy to serve you ... but at a distance

While the ACA NSW office remains open, we are practising social distancing. Here’s how:

• Our telephone system is now cloud-based. The 1300 556 330 remains our official telephone number, but all other landline numbers no longer work. As such, calls can now be answered by on-duty ACA NSW staff regardless of whether they are in the office or not.
• Almost all of our face-to-face events (eg ACA NSW Network Meetings, Quickies, Wheels on the Bus tours) have been either converted to on-line, deferred or suspended until further notice.
• We will increase the number of on-line events (ie ACA NSW Network Meetings and Quickies) for the foreseeable future.
• We have deferred the opening and closing of nominations of the Annual Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards until 2021.

We are all doing our best, so please be kind and respectful as we carry on

The wellbeing of ACA NSW’s members and staff remains our priority.

Our staff are busy helping ACA NSW members receive the reasonable support and assistance they need. So, you may have trouble reaching the ACA NSW staff at this time due to the higher the normal demand. However, ACA NSW staff will respond as quickly as possible.

Together, we will get through this period

Our ACA NSW staff have done a brilliant job in continuing to serve you during this unprecedented time. Thank you for showing them respect and gratitude.

We have faced many challenges over the past few months and no doubt there are more to come. Rest assured, we are committed to providing a safe environment for ACA NSW members and staff and we're working hard to make sure we the services and information you need most right now.

PUBLISHED: 23 MARCH 2020
UPDATED: 23 SEPTEMBER 2020

On Thursday, 2 April 2020, the Federal Government's announcement the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package. To assist members, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW had put together eight (8) live presentations (from 3 to 16 April 2020) during which the primary focus was on this Relief Package, the JobKeeper Payments, the PAYG Cash Grants and how to apply for Supplementary Funding. The video below is of the latest presentation held on 16 April 2020.

You can download a copy of the latest ACA NSW slides of the above presentation (dated 16 April 2020).

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) National Committee had broadcast the following video live on Friday, 3 April 2020.

You can download a copy of the ACA National slides of the above presentation.

ACA NSW's industrial relations lawyers (the Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors) also produced a webinar on 16 April 2020 about the JobKeeper Payments and changes to the Fair Work Act that would be of interest to ACA NSW members.

You can download a copy of ABLA's briefing notes via here.

PUBLISHED: 3 APRIL 2020
UPDATED: 16 APRIL 2020

To make it easier for Services to keep to social distancing guidelines Officeworks have created a range of signage that you may find helpful. 

Click below to see options:

To order either the floor decals or the health signage we have put together an order form for you to use.

Click here to download order form

There are a number of different ways you can access these resources either through a managed service (BPM) which includes delivery or a store option which will require you to go into store to action/collect. 

We have outlined below guidelines below:

Managed through Print & Promotions bpm@officeworks.com.au

• All orders need to include Order form with delivery details/click&collect storename,30-day account number and any artwork required.
• All orders sent to  bpm@officeworks.com.au.
• All orders require a 48hr production time before dispatch to your address or to collect in a nominated store.
• For all Click &Collect orders you will be notified via email once the order is ready for collection instore.

Print & Copy Store service

If you require a same day service the best option is to work directly with your local Officeworks Print and copy store, the stores will be able to advise how long it will take depending on their existing workflow generally it will take 40 minutes for 5 sets of the decals to be produced.

• All stores have the same templates available
• For same day pick up instore customers are required to visit their Local store and place orders in the print and copy area. Store to Advise ETA

Welcome to the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW's latest COVID-19 SMS Alert for ACA NSW member early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.

In this edition, the following are available to ACA NSW Members for free (which may require you to enter your username and password to access):

1. today's announcements from Federal and NSW Governments about financial and business continuity that are relevant to ECEC services dated 23 March 2020;
2. the most recent "Novel Coronavirus: (Virtually) Everything you need to know" webinar video that was broadcast on 20 March 2020;
3. a new "(Risk) Emergency Management Plan 2019/2020" template for members to download if needed;
4. an updated "FAQ: Can I use the 'stand down' provisions of the Fair Work Act";
5. the Federal Department of Education's video webcast on 19 March 2020; and
6. the new social media tile "Washing hands and singing the ABCs".

To ensure that the Federal Government is able to respond to the needs of ECEC services, they are also looking for feedback from you. You can provide feedback to the Federal Government via here.

The ACA NSW's Novel Coronavirus Watch continues to be updated daily and is arguably still the most comprehensive list of government and non-government information, tools and resources.

If you would like to unsubscribe from the ACA NSW's COVID-19 SMS Alert, please contact ACA NSW on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au with your name and mobile number.

PUBLISHED: 23 MARCH 2020