Across the course of this week, The Sector has been sharing an informative series, designed to explore the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for employers. Covering issues such as employee safety, workplace obligations, leave entitlements and managing business continuity, the series is a must-read, tailored to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, based on generalised advice from law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

While yesterday’s announcement in relation to significant short term reform of Government funding for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector was cautiously welcomed, more needs to be done to ensure jobs within the sector are preserved, both the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory branch of the Independent Education Union (IEU NSW/ACT) and the United Workers Union (UWU) have said.

In the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement of a dedicated early childhood education and care (ECEC) COVID-19 support package some of the sector’s largest peak bodies have released statements applauding the Government’s move.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced free childcare for more than one million families, with a funding boost that aims to keep more than 13,000 childcare services across Australia open.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a new COVID-19 relief package dedicated to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector that will see an estimated $600 million of additional support find its way to ECEC services, on top of the $1 billion associated with the JobKeeper package announced earlier in the week.