Christmas New Year support information from the Department of Education

The Federal Department of Education has shared information about the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and the 2023–24 Christmas – New Year period.

CCS Helpdesk hours

The CCS Helpdesk will close over the Christmas – New Year period. The helpdesk will close at 12.30 pm AEDT Friday 22 December 2023 and reopen at 9 am AEDT Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Services who require support during this period should refer to the Early Childhood page on the Department’s website.

CCS payments

Families can only get CCS when a service is open and providing care, unless it is a public holiday or during a period of emergency.

Session reports

Session reports will continue to be processed throughout the Christmas – New Year period. Session reports submitted on public holidays may experience short delays in processing or payment.

Services MUST NOT submit session reports if they are closed, unless it is a closure for a public holiday (which the service charges for) if the closure is the result of a period of emergency. 

Services who offer a shorter session of care on Friday 22 December, or who close early on Friday 22 December must also report the shorter session. 

Absences

Services claim absences when the service is closed, except on a public holiday or during a period of emergency.

On a public holiday, a service may only claim absences for children who would have otherwise attended care on that day.

Families have 42 allowable absences per child, per financial year. Families who have used their allowable absences can access additional absences if one of the additional absence reasons applies.

A public holiday is not an additional absence reason.

Services must continue to collect the gap fee from families when claiming absences over the holiday period.

Service closures

Any service altering hours over the Christmas – New Year period (for example: closing for two weeks, leaving the service unattended or closing early if there are no children to care for) must advise the Department within 14 days. This is a requirement under Family Assistance Law.

Services can advise the Department through the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or through third-party software. The service will also need to advise the relevant state or territory regulatory authority.

If there is a service closure the service must not submit session reports unless it is a public holiday or during a period of emergency where the service would have been otherwise open.

There is a table which outlines when a service that closes over the Christmas – New Year period may submit session reports and claim absences which is available on the Department’s website. 

Access the table here.