With 87 per cent of the world affected by educational disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO has launched a global education coalition to support countries in scaling up their distance learning options to ensure children who are most vulnerable are supported.

Family day care (FDC) and In-home care (IHC) services have received clarification about the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Relief Package following the 2 April announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan regarding the replacement of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) system previously in place.

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) released a statement yesterday outlining its role within the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, and influence on governmental decision making.

Having expressed concern last week about the future viability of its centres in wake of the ECEC relief package announcement, Australia’s largest early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider, Goodstart Early Learning, has welcomed an announcement made by the Federal Treasurer that charities, including Goodstart, will be able to apply for JobKeeper payments for their staff.

Over the course of the last three weeks there have been multiple relief schemes launched by both Federal and State and Territory Governments aimed at mitigating the economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.