Don’t miss your chance to discuss ECEC Relief Package

The Federal Department of Education, Skills and Employment sent communication to the broader early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector on Friday, thanking them for their response to the recent ORIMA Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Relief Package survey, and informing them of a quick follow up survey, to be released this week. 

Given the short time frame provided to respond to the follow up survey, the Department has recommended that services familiarise themselves with a few key metrics ahead of time, namely: 

1. Calculating how many children attended your service, and for how many hours, for each day over the week beginning Sunday 10 May 2020.
2. Engaging with families to find out how their circumstances are changing with the economy reopening and schools returning, to understand how much early childhood education and care they expect to need over the next few months.

The Department indicated that the number of responses to the initial survey had been favourable, with over 7,000 services contributing, with initial feedback/results showing that the relief package “has helped over 80 per cent of services to stay open, retain staff and continue to provide early childhood education and care”.

Feedback from the survey is currently being used as the Australian Government considers the Four Week Review of the Relief Package, with an announcement of the Government’s response expected shortly.

The Government, the Department said, is also considering the next phase of ECEC arrangements, in the context of the Prime Minister’s announcement on 8 May 2020 of a three step approach to reopening the Australian economy by July 2020.

Due to the short timeframe of the upcoming survey, the Department will be using the same contact details as the previous survey, and will be seeking responses at each service level online, including for large providers.

The department continues to also engage with ECEC peak bodies and directly with a range of providers and services to inform consideration of future arrangements, the statement read. 

Further information is available on the Department website, here.