The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW thanks its members for alerting us to what has been a confusing direction from the NSW Government.

Publicly, the NSW Government requires all businesses to implement mandatory check-ins from Monday, 23 November 2020.

However, in accordance with NSW's Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 5) 2020, the NSW Government has already ensured that early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are exempt (see Schedule 2 – Exempted Gatherings, Item 11 on Page 22).

Notwithstanding, the NSW Government will still require ECEC services to record all children’s, staff’s and visitors’ attendances using their pre-existing electronic and hardcopy platforms. These platforms and processes are already required because of the Commonwealth’s Child Care Subsidies as well as the National Law and National Regulations.

It is important to remember that such attendance records are to be made available to the NSW Department of Health for contact tracing purposes should there be a COVID-19 event. ACA NSW members can refer to ACA NSW's previously published article on “What to do in the event of a positive COVID-19 case(s)”.

Should members require further information or clarification, please contact the ACA NSW office on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 24 NOVEMBER 2020