This page is designed to provide families with up-to-date information about COVID-19 and education and care services. We’re frequently updating this page, so please check back regularly to make sure you’re getting the most current information.

Close contacts

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

Testing

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

All service providers are different

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

Financial information and support

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

Safety measures

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

Family Day Care

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

More information

It depends. Every service provider has different rules. You’ll need to speak to yours to find out the details.

The Australian Government allows 42 absences a year plus an additional 10 days (available for the 2021-22 financial year period), should these be required.

You can find more information on the Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment (DESE) website.

Public Health advice for schools and the early childhood education and care sector is available here: Schools and early childhood education and care | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)).

Advice provided through he Public Health Hotline may differ between service providers as:

  • Every education and care service has their own COVID-19 Safety Plan. This plan is tailored to each individual service. It outlines how they intend to keep their children, families, and educators safe.
  • Public Health may perform a risk assessment and occasionally direct a service to manage children/students as close contacts in specific situations.

Yes. if you are a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors.

However, Public Health have advised that children under the age of 12 are exempt from this close contact rule.

You must notify your service provider.

Your childcare provider may also require you to notify them if your child or if you are a close contact.

A staff member or child (who is a close contact) can still attend care subject to the following conditions:

  1. they cannot attend if they show symptoms; and
  2. must produce a negative test result prior to attending care (for all of the seven days) – refer to the Public Health website for the latest close contact rules.

 

Updated 2 May 2022

Category: Close contacts

COVID-19 shares many symptoms with a common cold flu and hay fever. A full list of symptoms can be found here.

No matter how mild, parents/carers should not send their child to care if they see any symptoms.

It is important that you:

  1. Do not send your child to care; and
  2. Get your child tested for COVID-19 if they present any symptoms.

 

Click here for guidance on how to use a RAT test.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test.

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this will be sufficient evidence for your child to return to care if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.

If your question is about:

  • health advice; or
  • information about COVID restrictions

please contact the Public Health hotline on 1800 671 738 or seek information on the coronavirus website.

If your question is about:

  • the operation of your child’s education and care service;
  • service policies; or
  • changes to enrolment or attendance

please contact your service directly.

Category: More information

No. If anyone in the Family Day Care provider’s home is self-isolating or in quarantine, then they must not operate.

Category: Family Day Care

You need to speak to your service provider about the service’s enrolment conditions and payment of fees.

This is a matter for you to discuss with your employer.

You may find helpful information on the Tasmanian coronavirus website.

You may find helpful information on the Services Australia website.