Gap fee waiving and additional allowable absences are now available to services in Victoria until the state lifts restrictions around access to child care.
This is currently expected to be 5 November 2021 for Metropolitan Melbourne and restricted parts of Victoria.
Details about restrictions in Victoria are available on the Victorian Government website.
Gap fee waiving
Early learning services in parts of Victoria where the state has restricted access to child care can waive the gap fee for families who keep their children at home until 5 November 2021. This includes Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care and In Home Care.
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services can also waive gap fees until 5 November 2021. This is to coincide with when the state allows all primary school-aged children to return to face to face learning.
Gap fee waiving is a business decision for services. However, if your service is getting business continuity payments from us, you must waive gap fees.
Services that choose to waive gap fees will continue to receive the Child Care Subsidy.
Gap fee waiving helps parents keep their children enrolled without having to pay for a service they are not using.
Additional allowable absences
Families using early learning services in parts of Victoria where the state has restricted access to child care can access additional allowable absences until 5 November 2021. This includes Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care and In Home Care.
For OSHC services, additional allowable absences are available until 5 November 2021 to coincide with when the state allows all primary school aged children to return to face to face learning.
This means families will not use up their 42 allowable absences.
Updates to our website
We are in the process of updating our website to reflect this and other important information about COVID-19 support in your region. Please check back often.