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.
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There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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Testing
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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All service providers are different
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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Financial information and support
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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Safety measures
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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Family Day Care
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022
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More information
There are four instances where services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) – this is outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au:
- A child, or a member of their immediate household, must isolate due to COVID-19.
- The child is at a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed due to COVID-19.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19.
Services must not waive the gap fee for families in any other circumstances.
Updated 2 February 2022
Gap fees can be waived by FDC services if a child is unable to attend care because the educator (or member of the educator’s household) must isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19.
Updated 2 February 2022
No. Services can only waive the gap fee for the reasons outlined in the Australian Government website – COVID-19 information for the early childhood education and care sector – dese.gov.au
If a family chooses to keep their child at home they may use their allowable absences, but must pay a gap fee to the service.
Details on how absences work and when to claim are outlined in the Australian Government’s website – Absences from child care – Department for Education, Children and Young People, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)
Updated 2 February 2022