Vic Government announces new restrictions affecting ECEC effective 21 August

The Victorian Government implemented new restrictions to early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings from 1pm on Saturday 21 August 2021 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the State.

• in out-of-home care;
• deemed vulnerable by a government agency, funded family or family violence service, and assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home; or,
• identified by a childcare or early childhood service as vulnerable, including but not limited to referrals from a government agency, or funded family or family violence service, homeless or youth justice service or mental health or other health service.

Victorians are required to carry permits from 11.59pm on Monday 23 August 2021 to access childcare or kindergarten services. As part of providing on-site education and care to children of Authorised Workers, ECEC services will be expected to sight Authorised Worker Permits from parents/carers from Tuesday 24 August 2021.

1. template letter to communicate with families about the permit process
2. template letter to provide to vulnerable families whose child may still attend the service.

For children who are not attending, services should make reasonable efforts (in line with their particular circumstances) to support home learning. The type and frequency of contact with families will depend on each service’s individual circumstances and resources. It is understood that teachers and educators occupied with delivering the on-site program will have limited capacity to engage with other families.

“The most important thing services can do at this time is to stay connected with families,” Ms Little emphasised. 

“If you haven’t been able to make contact at all with a family or carer of a vulnerable child, consider reaching out to other support services (for example Child FIRST or family services) that may be involved with the family,” Ms Little said.

• Where there are two parents/carers, both must be authorised workers, working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
• For single parents/carers, the authorised worker must be working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.

• children in out-of-home care;
• children deemed vulnerable by a government agency, funded family or family violence service, and assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home; or, 
• children identified by a school or OSHC service as vulnerable, (including via referral from a government agency, or funded family or family violence service, homeless or youth justice service or mental health or other health service). 

Services are reminded that early childhood teacher (ECT) ratio requirements under the National Quality Framework have not changed and. remain in place. For further information about ratios, including the ECT requirements which apply if a service is providing education and care to fewer than 25 children, please see view information about educator to child ratios.

• service providers have flexibility on how to use this funding, so long as it is spent on meeting additional COVID-19-related cleaning and hygiene requirements during Term 3;
• service providers with fewer than 50 enrolments will receive $900 while those with 50 or more enrolments will receive $1,500.