COVID-19: Additional Absent Days granted during Greater Sydney lockdown

August 3rd, 2021 Latest News

On 3 August 2021, the Federal Department of Education advised that NSW parents/guardians can access additional Allowable Absences (aka Absent Days) effectively until the end of the lockdown across the Greater Sydney (including Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) region.


These additional Allowable Absences at services will be backdated to one of the two dates (23 or 26 June 2021) depending on which local government area (LGA) your service is located (see table below).


The Federal Department of Education's advice effectively says that NSW parents/guardians will not have to use their first 42 days of Allowance Absences beginning 1 July 2021, but will from the day after the end of the Greater Sydney lockdown.


(NOTE: At the time of writing this article, the NSW Government anticipates the end of the Greater Sydney lockdown to be  lifted on 28 August 2021. Please be aware that this could change to an earlier or later date subject to a future NSW Government decision.)


You can determine which LGA your service is in by entering your service's physical address at the NSW Government's Find Your Council.


List of LGAs where

Additional Allowable Absences
to be backdated to 23 June 2021

List of LGAs where

Additional Allowable Absences
to be backdated to 26 June 2021
  1. Bayside LGA
  2. City of Sydney LGA
  3. Canada Bay LGA
  4. Inner West LGA
  5. Randwick LGA
  6. Waverley LGA
  7. Woollahra LGA
  1. Blacktown LGA
  2. Blue Mountains LGA
  3. Burwood LGA
  4. Camden LGA
  5. Central Coast LGA
  6. Campbelltown LGA
  7. Canterbury-Bankstown LGA
  8. Cumberland LGA
  9. Fairfield LGA
  10. Georges River LGA
  11. Hawkesbury LGA
  12. Hornsby LGA
  13. Hunter’s Hill LGA
  14. Ku-ring-gai LGA
  15. Lane Cove LGA
  16. Liverpool LGA
  17. Mosman LGA
  18. North Sydney LGA
  19. Northern Beaches LGA
  20. City of Parramatta LGA
  21. Penrith LGA
  22. Ryde LGA
  23. Shellharbour LGA
  24. Strathfield LGA
  25. Sutherland LGA 
  26. The Hills Shire LGA
  27. Wollondilly LGA
  28. Willoughby LGA
  29. City of Wollongong LGA

Should you require any further information or clarification, please contact:


  • the Federal Department of Education's CCS Helpdesk via 1300 667 276 or ccshelpdesk@dese.gov.au; or
  • the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

And for all COVID related information for the early childhood education and care sector, please visit ACA NSW's COVIDwatch.


PUBLISHED: 3 AUGUST 2021

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