A federal government scheme designed to help get kids back into childcare once Victoria's coronavirus crisis eases has drawn mixed reactions from parents in Melbourne.
New Stage 4 restrictions mean only vulnerable children and the children of permitted workers are allowed to attend childcare during the next six weeks.
The federal government on Wednesday announced it would fund affected childcare centres and provide 30 days of extra absences so parents who withdraw their kids don't lose their places or face extra fees during the lockdown period.
Melbourne mother Jess O’Bryan is a nurse working within an infectious diseases team treating coronavirus patients.
Jess O'Bryan with her son at childcare. Source: SBS News
As an essential worker, she has continued to send her son to childcare, but is well aware of the challenges other families are now facing.
“Knowing that my son is safe and very well cared for - it takes my mind off it at work. It is one less thing I need to worry about at the moment,” she told SBS News.
“[But] it’s going to be really hard for those other families and I really feel for them. It’s going to be a really testing six weeks.”
Education Minister Dan Tehan said the government's rescue package would help keep families enrolled in the childcare system.
Childcare providers will get a five per cent top-up to payments as part of a $708 million transition scheme, announced after JobKeeper payments were ended for the sector last month.
Providers whose attendance drops more than 70 per cent will get a higher top-up payment of between 10 and 25 per cent.
Fiona Sherlock, the centre manager at the Ashwood Children’s Centre in Melbourne's south east, said the city's prolonged lockdown was creating a heavy financial burden.
“We are very concerned about what our future will look like outside of that six weeks,” she said.
“We will take any type of relief we can get at the moment to ensure our service can continue to open its doors.”
However, Early Childhood Australia CEO Samantha Page said the complexity of the government’s response meant some parents could remain uncertain about costs.
Fiona Sherlock, the centre manager at the Ashwood Children’s Centre. Source: SBS News
“I’m worried that it doesn’t give the certainty to families that they need. It’s already a very uncertain, difficult and stressful time,” she said.
“Families have to trust services are going to waive that out of pocket cost and a lot of services are trying to work out if they can afford to do that."
Mr Tehan said ultimately the decision to waive the costs will rest on providers.
“We cannot by law compel services to waive the gap fee,” he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday apologised to families for the new restrictions, which require workers to apply for a childcare permit, saying he could not allow a quarter of a million children going to and from childcare each day.
"It is a massive reduction and I apologise to those families because childcare is not there. But there is no alternative," he told reporters in Melbourne.
Mother of two Lula Dembele is among many Melbourne-based parents working from home full-time who are uncertain if they’ll be able to get a childcare permit.
Lula Dembele with her two children. Source: Supplied
The single mother co-parents her four and six-year-old sons with her former partner, who is not able to work remotely.
“I am really uncertain about how my mental health will progress through the next six weeks. It is going to be a real challenge,” Ms Dembele said.
“The pressure will continue to mount having young children and also being required to work from home ... I am concerned that I will feel overwhelmed.”
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative. The full list of restrictions can be found here.
All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
