One of the surprise silver linings of the COVID-19 crisis is that childcare became free for all Australian families.

All facets of education, including early childhood education and care (ECEC), are undergoing a digital transformation at a rapid pace. The introduction of tools like Google Classrooms, Webex and Class Dojo, as well as the shift towards remote learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen an increased up-take of digital technologies by educators seeking to remain connected with the children they educate and care for, from home.

The Australian government’s COVID-19 rescue package for the child-care sector provides a lifeline for centres and parents alike.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down. Amidst the upheavals, it has laid bare how little we normally pay for “women’s work”.

‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is a classic film from 1985, about a high school kid who decides to take a day off school. It’s always been one of my favourites. At this point in time, as the world finds itself in the most extraordinary of circumstances, many of us have been called on to develop new and different ways of working and staying connected. As I have grappled with some of these particular challenges, one question Ferris asks at the beginning of the film rings through my mind – “How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?”.