Is there any additional ECEC support for families as Jobkeeper ends?

With the Jobkeeper support package ending on 28 March, many early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will be receiving questions about additional support services which may be available for families who have experienced job loss or reduction of income as a result. 

• Being stood down from work/no rostered hours;

• Reduced hours or irregular work (including after a period of being stood down or even returning to work);
• Inability to find or return to work due to business or industry impacts from COVID, something which should especially be considered in localised areas of very high unemployment, e.g. where local employment relies heavily on tourism (e.g Gold Coast);

• Having to leave home because of extreme circumstance, eg could no longer afford rent/mortgage due to COVID-19;
• Serious illness of a family member or having a health vulnerable family member at home, restricting ability to work/study/travel outside the home; and/or, 

• Other major disaster event, including widespread lockdowns, floods, etc.

• The event or incident that has caused the financial hardship, e.g. lost job, substantially reduced income, family illness, natural disaster, etc.;

• The date the event occurred; and, 

• How the event has affected the ability to pay childcare fees.