Child care services in the Australian Capital Territory will get fortnightly business continuity payments calculated from Monday 23 August.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Education Minister Alan Tudge announced the measure in response to the impact of extended lockdowns because of COVID-19.
Child care
Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care and In Home Care services will get fortnightly payments of 25% of their pre-lockdown revenue calculated up to the hourly cap.
The reference fortnight for calculating a service’s revenue is 17 to 30 May 2021.
Outside School Hours Care
OSHC services will get separate fortnightly payments of 40% of their pre-lockdown revenue calculated up to the hourly cap.
The reference fortnight for calculating a service’s revenue is 17 to 30 May 2021.
Vacation care
Vacation care services will get separate fortnightly payments of 40% of their pre-lockdown revenue calculated up to the hourly cap.
The reference fortnight for calculating a service’s revenue is 26 June – 11 July.
Eligible areas
All services across care types in the ACT are eligible for business continuity payments if they meet the conditions outlined.
Conditions
Business continuity payments are contingent on services:
- Reasonable expectations attendance will drop below 50%
- not accessing other Commonwealth Government funded business supports
- waiving gap fees for all families whose children are not attending
- maintaining staffing levels, and
- agreeing to a fee freeze for the duration of business continuity payments.
How to apply
We will provide details about how to apply and how payments will be made soon.
Gap fee waivers and additional allowable absences
Services in the ACT can waive gap fees and access additional allowable absences.
Business continuity payments are in addition to these measures.
More information
We regularly update our website with information about COVID-19 support for the early childhood sector.
This information was updated on 25 August 2021.