Explained: NSW's latest Public Health Orders (for Northern Beaches and NSW)

The NSW Government released its latest and amended Public Health Orders on:

• 19 December 2020 (see NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020) that will expire at 11.59 pm on Wednesday, 23 December 2020; and
• 20 December 2020 (see NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020).

In relation to early childhood education and care services operating within the Northern Beaches local government area, the following would be of note:

1. parents can travel for the purposes of their children attending childcare (including picking up or dropping another person at childcare) (see Schedule 1, Item 3);
2. staff can travel for the purposes of work if the person cannot work from the person’s place of residence (see Schedule 1, Item 2); and
3. gatherings of 2 or more people can occur at early childhood education and care services as they recognised as Essential Services (see Clause 9(3)(a) and Schedule 2, Item 10).

At 5.33 pm today, the Federal Department of Education also provided the following:

• To assist services and families who have already used 42 absence days, on 21 December 2020 the (Federal) Department made a Local Area Emergency Declaration for child care services in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area (LGA) of Sydney.
• The declaration is currently in force until 10 January 2021.
• The 42 absence days can be used by families for any reason, including a local emergency.
• The declaration also enables Child Care Subsidy to continue to be available as it entitles families to additional absence days if their child has used their 42 absence days.

And for services operating for the rest of New South Wales, the following would be of note in relation to the amended Public Health Order:

• services are exempt from this Public Health Order in relation to restrictions of the maximum number of persons and person:space ratios on premises (see Clause 9(2)(i) and Schedule 2, Item 11). (NOTE: The National Law (NSW) and National Regulations (NSW) will still apply.)

Also at 5.33 pm today, the Federal Department of Education also provided the following:

• Services can currently access absences and waive gap fees, if they are forced to close on public health advice.
• The Federal Government has extended this rule until 31 January 2021.

There is also no change to QR codes not being mandatory for early childhood education and care services as previously published on 24 November 2020.

Should members of the Australian Childcare Alliance NSW require any further information or clarification, please contact us on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 21 DECEMBER 2020