Vulnerable ECEC workers encouraged to talk work arrangements

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has encouraged those considered vulnerable to COVID-19 infection to approach their employers with their leadership team as the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector continues to navigate the unfolding pandemic.

Following the recent Prime Ministerial announcement on the evening of 29 March, ECA issued guidance to the sector, saying that people in vulnerable groups should “consider carefully whether they should be working in face-to-face roles in early childhood settings”.

Current Government advice, at time of print, is that several groups in the Australian population should self isolate at home ‘to the maximum extent practicable’, including: 

• People of any age with an existing chronic health problem, including but not limited to, diabetes, heart, respiratory conditions or suppressed immune systems;
• People living with household members who have any of these risk factors should consider their arrangements;
• Indigenous people aged over 50 should stay home wherever possible for their own protection; and,
• People aged over 60 with pre-existing conditions (not limited to those above).

As alternatives to working directly with children, ECA recommended that those in the vulnerable categories outlined above should consider alternative arrangements, extended leave, or options which would allow them to work from home, such as programming, planning, or co-ordinating online communication with families. 

For more information about groups most at risk during the pandemic, please see here. 

The Sector is maintaining a list of web based resources and sources of advice and information during the COVID-19 pandemic. To access this list, please see here.