April 17th, 2024
Latest News
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW has put together a dedicated webpage that offers all the information relevant for approved providers and senior personnel of early childhood education and care services in relation to COVID-19. This webpage will be continually updated so that services can access the latest information in one place.
Please note that some may be reserved for ACA NSW members only and will require a username and password for access.
QUICK LINKS TO ADVICE ON KEY ISSUES:
- who can access early childhood education and care (aka childcare)
- current restrictions
- waiving gap fees
- face masks
- funding
- vaccinations
- rapid antigen testing
- who can enter/leave their LGA
- testing requirements
- allowable abscences
- what to do in the event of a positive case
- important contact numbers
- current ACECQA map of temporarily closed service
- current list & map of COVID-19 cases and their locations across NSW
- 3 areas of NSW:
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ACA NSW'S ARTICLES/UPDATES |
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| 24 September 2021 | Latest Restrictions Announced (23 September 2021) | Read article |
| 21 September 2021 | Anticipating Mandatory Vaccinations | Read article |
| 11 September 2021 | Latest Restrictions Announced (11 September 2021) | Read article |
| 7 September 2021 | Suspending the clawback of CCS | Read article |
| 7 September 2021 | Missed the deadline for the new Business Continuity Payments? | Read article |
| 6 September 2021 | Latest Restrictions Announced 5 September 2021 | Read article |
| 3 September 2021 | ACA NSW seeks clarification following announcement of comprehensive mandatory vaccinations | Read article |
| 2 September 2021 | DocuSign by tomorrow to receive new BCP payments | Read article |
| 28 August 2021 | Latest Restrictions Announced 28 August 2021 | Read article |
| 27 August 2021 | Avoiding the impending clawback of Child Care Subsidies | Read article |
| 27 August 2021 | Jobsaver is now tax free | Read article |
| 25 August 2021 | Explainer video about new Business Continuity Payments announced on 23 August 2021 | Read article |
| 24 August 2021 | Managing Mandatory Vaccinations | Read article |
| 20 August 2021 | Latest Restrictions announced & amended (20-21 August 2021) | Read article |
| 19 August 2021 | No response over CHO's comments | Read article |
| 18 August 2021 | Seeking urgent clarification on Dr Kerry Chant's comments (18 August 2021) | Read article |
| 18 August 2021 | Priority Vaccinations for ECE Educators | Read article |
| 17 August 2021 | Explainer video on Available Government Assistance (as of 17 August 2021) | Read article |
| 17 August 2021 | Governments need to do more for ECEC sector | Read article |
| 14 August 2021 | Latest restrictions announced (14 August 2021) | Read article |
| 10 August 2021 | NSW Police may visit ECEC services | Read article |
| 10 August 2021 | When you can't reach NSW Health | Read article |
| 3 August 2021 | Additional Absent Days granted during Greater Sydney lockdown | Read article |
| 2 August 2021 | ECEC Educators/Teachers who may be eligible for (prioritised) COVID-19 Vaccinations | Read article |
| 2 August 2021 | Use of Abscence Days during lockdown of the Greater Sydney region | Read article |
| 29 July 2021 | Latest Restrictions announced (29 July 2021) | Read article |
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20 July 2021 |
CLARIFIED: Facemasks may not be used when with children | Read article |
| 19 July 2021 | Need for clarification on new(?) requirement on facemasks | Read article |
| 19 July 2021 | Cleaners and Deep Cleaners as Authorised Workers | Read article |
| 18 July 2021 | Legal advice on Stand Down provisions |
Username/ password required |
| 17 July 2021 |
Clarification and information about the latest announcement of new restrictions for Greater Sydney region (including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour) until 30 July 2021:
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Read article |
| 16 July 2021 |
Unpacking: Waiver of Gap Fees |
Read article |
| 13 July 2021 |
More Federal and NSW Governments Funding Assistance
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Read article |
| 13 July 2021 |
New COVID restrictions for Fairfield LGA |
Read article |
| 7 July 2021 | Local Area Emergency for Greater Sydney extended to 16 July 2021 | Read advice |
| 7 July 2021 | Greater Sydney lockdown extended to 16 July 2021 | Read advice |
| 2 July 2021 | Are QR codes mandatory for ECEC services? | Read article |
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30 June 2021 |
NSW Government's Small Business Grants of up to $10,000 |
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27 June 2021 |
Latest rules, advice, suggestions and information on:
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23 June 2021 |
Latest facemasks & the square metre rules |
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27 January 2021 |
Can you direct your employees to be vaccinated? (Members Only) |
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| OTHER CURRENT AND RELEVANT INFORMATION | ||
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PAST ACA NSW ARTICLES/UPDATES |
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21 December 2020 |
What MORE Government Assistance does your service need in the event of another COVID-19 outbreak? |
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9 December 2020 |
Anticipating possible implications from COVID-19 vaccine(s) |
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24 November 2020 |
Clarification: QR Codes are NOT mandatory for NSW's ECEC services beginning 23 November 2020 |
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13 October 2020 |
UPDATED: COVID-19 Guidelines for Services' Graduations |
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28 September 2020 |
What to do in the event of a positive COVID-19 case(s) |
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25 September 2020 |
NSW Government's pre-qualified list of deep cleaning providers |
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22 September 2020 |
Has your service been negatively impacted in/near a NSW COVID-19 'hotspot'? |
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22 September 2020 |
Are you eligible for JobKeeper (2.0) and the Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances post 27 September 2020? |
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15 September 2020 |
NSW Government asked for declarations upon positive COVID-19 clusters |
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30 July 2020 |
ACA National Meeting shares COVID update with Federal Minister Tehan |
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22 July 2020 |
Helping children to feel and be safe during COVID-19 |
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22 July 2020 |
What if NSW had a second wave(s) or cluster(s) of COVID-19? |
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20 April 2020 |
More clarifications from NSW Department of Education during COVID-19 |
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20 March 2020 |
COVID-19 SMS Alert #3: 23 March 2020 |
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13 March 2020 |
FAQ: Can I use the "stand down" provisions (s524) of the Fair Work Act? |
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4 March 2020 |
FAQs - Novel Coronavirus |
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Other Resources:
Other Information for Approved Providers and Senior Personnel:
- Where is the current COVID-19 list of venues of concern?
- What is the official COVID-19 advice from the NSW Department of Education?
- What are the symptoms to look for?
- Which countries should I be paying more attention to?
- What degree of separation of people associated with my service should I be focused on?
- Which policy should my service be relying on?
- Is a dedicated Novel Coronavirus policy needed?
- Will the Federal Government provide Child Care Subsidies despite absences?
- What if parents refuse to pay their fees?
- Do staff need to be paid while in isolation?
- What is the current Australian and global statistics of infections and deaths?
- How does the Novel Coronavirus compare with current and past pandemics?
- Can masks be effective?
- How likely would the Federal or NSW Government force business closures?
- Does my business insurance cover business interruption resulting from the Novel Coronavirus?
- Can the Federal/NSW Government assist in terms of business continuity subsidies?
- What should I tell families?
- Who should I talk to if excluding children?
- Should I be charging parents if their child is excluded or that they choose to stay at home?
- What if a child is excluded and hasn't actually started their first formal day of care?
- Does this apply for Out-of-School-Hours-Care (OSHC)?
- Availability and use of personal (sick/carer's) leave?
- How should an employer pay employees who are isolated, but not diagnosed with the Novel Coronavirus?
- What about casual employees?
- Can I use the "stand down" provisions (s524) of the Fair Work Act if my service is instructed to temporarily close?
- What government funding is there to pay for my staff if my service is instructed to temporarily close?
Important telephone numbers:
- Public Health Unit (NSW Department of Health) on 1300 066 055
- NSW Department of Education as the NSW Regulatory Authority (see website) or 1800 619 113 or ececd@det.nsw.edu.au
- National Coronavirus Health Information line on 1800 020 080
- Federal Department of Health's HealthDirect (24-hour health advice you can count on) - 1800 022 222
- Federal Department of Education's Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) line on 1300 650 848
PUBLISHED: 29 JUNE 2021
UPDATED: 23 AUGUST 2021
