Early childhood COVID-19 support by region

Child care services in the below regions can waive gap fees, access additional allowable absences and get business continuity payments for the dates indicated.

Dates in this table are dependent on when the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and states and territories publish their health orders. Sometimes there are delays between media reporting and when this information is published on official sites.

We update this table frequently, so check back often.

Business continuity payments are based on a service’s revenue in a specified fortnight before the lockdown. The reference fortnights for each region are outlined in the payment guidelines.

Dates under business continuity payments refer to the payment fortnights. Services receive payment for the full fortnight so long as they are in an eligible location for one day in that fortnight.

Location filter

New South Wales

Sydney

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 July – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 24 June – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payment: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 July – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 24 June – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payment: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Bayside
Canada Bay
City of Sydney
Inner West
Randwick
Waverley
Woollahra

Greater Sydney

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 July — 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 27 June — 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August — 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 July — 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 27 June — 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August — 31 October 2021

Blacktown
Blue Mountains
Burwood
Camden
Campbelltown
Canterbury/Bankstown
Central Coast
Cumberland
Fairfield
Georges River
Hawkesbury
Hornsby
Hunters Hill
Ku-ring-gai
Lane Cove
Liverpool
Mosman
North Sydney
Northern Beaches
Parramatta
Penrith
Ryde
Shellharbour
Strathfield
Sutherland Shire
The Hills Shire
Willoughby
Wollondilly
Wollongong

Western NSW

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Bathurst
Bourke
Dubbo

Newcastle and Hunter

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Newcastle
Cessnock
Lake Macquarie
Maitland
Port Stephens

Regional NSW

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Broken Hill
Eurobodalla
Goulburn Mulwaree
Kiama
Lithgow
Queanbeyan-Palerang
Shoalhaven
Wingecarribee Shire

Muswellbrook

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 29 September – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 29 September – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 29 September – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 29 September – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Muswellbrook

Snowy Monaro, Kyogle, Narromine

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 1 October – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 1 October – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 1 October – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 1 October – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Snowy Monaro
Kyogle
Narromine

Oberon

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 30 September – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 30 September – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 30 September – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 30 September – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Oberon

Lismore

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 3 October – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 3 October – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 3 October – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 3 October – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Lismore

Regional NSW

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 11 October – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 11 October – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 11 October – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 11 October – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Cowra
Central Darling
Hilltops
Mid-Western Regional
Walgett
Orange
Brewarrina
Gilgandra
Bega Valley
Blayney
Bogan
Cabonne
Dungog
Forbes
Narrabri
Parkes
Singleton
Upper Hunter Shire
Albury
Armidale Regional
Ballina
Balranald
Bellingen
Berrigan
Bland
Byron
Carrathool
Clarence Valley
Cobar
Coffs Harbour
Coolamon
Coonamble
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
Edward River
Federation
Glen Innes Severn
Greater Hume Shire
Griffith
Gunnedah
Gwydir
Hay
Inverell
Junee
Kempsey
Lachlan
Leeton
Liverpool Plains
Lockhart
Mid-Coast
Moree Plains
Murray River
Murrumbidgee
Nambucca
Narrandera
Port Macquarie-Hastings
Richmond Valley
Snowy Valleys
Tamworth Regional
Temora
Tenterfield
Tweed
Unincorporated NSW
Upper Lachlan Shire
Uralla
Wagga Wagga
Walcha
Warren
Warrumbungle Shire
Weddin
Wentworth
Yass Valley

Jervis Bay

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October

Jervis Bay

Suburbs

Richmond Valley Suburbs

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 2 October – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 2 October – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 2 October – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 2 October – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October

Casino

Central Darling Suburbs

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 17 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 17 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 24 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 24 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October

Menindee
Sunset Strip
Wilcannia

Mid Coast Suburbs

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 5 – 10 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Black Head
Booti Booti
Brimbin
Charlotte Bay
Croki
Dumaresq Island
Glenthorne
Jones Island
Kundle Kundle
Blueys Beach
Bohnock
Cabbage Tree Island
Cundletown
Coomba Bay
Diamond beach
Elizabeth Beach
Hallidays Point
Kiwarrak
Lansdowne
Forster
Green Point
Pacific Palms
Sandbar
Shallow Bay
Smiths Lake
Bootawa
Boomerang Beach
Darawank
Failford
Ghinni Ghinni
Hillville
Koorainghat
Taree
Tarbuck Bay
Tiona
Tuncurry
Wallingat
Wallis Lake
Chatham
Coomba Park

Gunnedah

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 5 – 10 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Gunnedah

Port Macquarie

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 29 September – 5 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Port Macquarie

Cowra

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 21 September – 5 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 21 September – 5 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Cowra

Hilltops

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 18 September – 1 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 18 September – 1 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Hilltops

Walgett

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 1 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 1 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Walgett

Regional NSW

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 1 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 1 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Central Darling
Mid West Region

Yass

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 28 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 28 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Yass Valley

Byron, Tweed and Kempsey

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 – 28 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Byron
Tweed
Kempsey

Narromine

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 25 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 25 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Narromine

Glen Innes

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 18 – 23 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Glen Innes

Orange

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 23 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 23 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Orange

Western NSW

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 22 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 22 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 3 October 2021

Brewarrina
Gilgandra

Albury and Lismore

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 17 – 22 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Albury
Lismore

Regional NSW

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 16 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 16 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Bega
Blayney
Cabonne
Forbes
Narrabri
Parkes
Snowy Monaro
Upper Hunter Shire

Bogan

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 16 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 16 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Bogan

Newcastle and Hunter

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 16 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 16 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Muswellbrook
Dungog
Singleton

Western NSW

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 August – 10 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 12 August – 10 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Coonamble
Warren

Northern Rivers and Armidale

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 17 August – 10 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 10 August – 10 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Armidale
Ballina
Byron
Lismore
Richmond Valley
Tamworth

Regional NSW

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 10 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 August – 10 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Albury
Balranald
Bellingen
Berrigan
Bland
Carrathoool
Clarence Valley
Cobar
Coffs Harbour
Coolamon
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Cowra
Edward River
Federation Council
Glen Innes
Greater Hume
Griffith
Gunnedah
Gwydir
Hay
Hilltops
Inverell
Junee
Kempsey
Kyogle
Lachlan
Leeton
Liverpool Plains
Lockhart
Mid-Coast Council
Moree Plains
Murray River
Murrumbidgee
Nambucca
Narrandera
Oberon
Port Macquarie-Hastings
Snowy Valleys
Temora
Tenterfield
Tweed
Unincorporated Far West
Upper Lachlan
Uralla
Wagga Wagga
Walcha
Warrumbungle
Weddin
Wentworth

Victoria

Metropolitan Melbourne

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 29 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 29 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 29 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 29 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Banyule
Bayside
Boroondara
Brimbank
Cardinia
Casey
Darebin
Frankston
Glen Eira
Greater Dandenong
Hobson Bay
Hume
Kingston
Knox
Manningham
Maribyrnong
Maroondah
Melbourne
Melton
Monash
Moonee Valley
Moreland
Mornington Peninsula
Nillumbik
Port Phillip
Stonnington
Whitehorse
Whittlesea
Wyndham
Yarra
Yarra Ranges

Regional victoria

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 9 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 22 August – 9 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Alpine
Ballarat
Bass Coast
Baw Baw
Buloke
Campaspe
Central Goldfields
Colac Otway
Corangamite
East Gippsland
Gannawarra
Glenelg
Greater Bendigo
Hepburn
Hindmarsh
Indigo
Latrobe
Loddon
Macedon Ranges
Mansfield
Mitchell
Moira
Mount Alexander
Moyne
Murrindindi
Northern Grampians
Pyrenees
Queenscliffe
Rural Ararat
Rural Benalla
Rural Horsham
Rural Mildura
Rural Swan Hill
Rural Wangaratta
South Gippsland
Southern Grampians
Strathbogie
Surf Coast
Towong
Warrnambool
Wellington
West Wimmera
Wodonga
Yarriambiack

Mitchell Shire

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 20 September – 13 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 20 September – 13 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 17 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 20 September – 13 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 20 September – 13 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Mitchell Shire

Mildura

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 9 October – 21 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 9 October – 21 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 4 October – 31 October 2021

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 9 October – 21 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 9 October – 21 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Mildura

Moorabool and Greater Shepparton

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 2 – 8 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Moorabool
Greater Shepparton

City of Latrobe

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 29 September – 5 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

City of Latrobe

Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 20 – 26 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Greater Geelong
Surf Coast Shire

Ballarat

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 16 – 22 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Ballarat

Shepparton

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 August – 15 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 22 August – 15 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Greater Shepparton

Regional Victoria

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 11–21 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: 11–21 October 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October 2021

Alpine
Ararat
Ballarat
Bass Coast
Baw Baw
Benalla
Buloke
Campaspe
Central Goldfields
Colac-Otway
Corangamite
East Gippsland
Gannawarra
Glenelg
Golden Plains
Greater Bendigo
Greater Geelong
Greater Shepparton
Hepburn
Hindmarsh
Horsham
Indigo
Latrobe
Loddon
Macedon Ranges
Mansfield
Mitchell
Moira
Moorabool
Mount Alexander
Moyne
Murrindindi
Northern Grampians
Pyrenees
Queenscliffe
South Gippsland
Southern Grampians
Strathbogie
Surf Coast
Swan Hill
Towong
Wangeratta
Warrnambool
Wellington
West Wimmera
Wodonga
Yarriambiack
Unincorporated areas

Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, and Moorabool

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 9 September 2021
Additional allowable absences: 6 August – 9 September 2021
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 19 September 2021

Golden Plains
Greater Geelong
Moorabool

Victoria

All care types

Gap fee waiver: Not eligible
Additional allowable absences: 16 – 27 July 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Banyule
Bayside
Boroondara
Brimbank
Cardinia
Casey
Darebin
Frankston
Glen Eira
Greater Dandenong
Hobsons Bay
Hume
Kingston
Knox
Manningham
Maribyrnong
Maroondah
Melbourne
Melton
Monash
Moonee Valley
Moreland
Mornington Peninsula
Nillumbik
Port Phillip
Stonnington
Whitehorse
Whittlesea
Yarra
Yarra Ranges
Wyndham
Moorabool
Greater Geelong
Borough of Queenscliff, Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale
Surf Coast Shire

Bass Coast

All care types

Gap fee waiver: Not eligible
Additional allowable absences: 18 – 27 July 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Bass Coast Shire, including Phillip Island

Mildura

All care types

Gap fee waiver: Not eligible
Additional allowable absences: 19 – 27 July 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Mildura

Queensland

Before and After School Care only

Gap fee waiver: 24 January – 6 February 2022
Additional allowable absences: 24 January – 6 February 2022
Business continuity payments: N/A

All Queensland areas

South East Queensland

All care types

Gap fee waiver: Not eligible
Additional allowable absences: 1 – 8 August 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Brisbane
Moreton Bay
Redland
Logan
Ipswich
Noosa
Gold Coast
Lockyer Valley
Scenic Rim
Somerset
Sunshine Coast

Australian Capital Territory

ACT

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 24 October
Additional allowable absences: 13 August – 24 October
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 13 August – 31 October
Additional allowable absences: 13 August – 31 October
Business continuity payments: 23 August – 31 October

All ACT areas

Northern Territory

Gunyangara, Wurrumiyanga and Utopia

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 22 – 29 January 2022
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: N/A

Gunyangara (Ski Beach)
Wurrumiyanga
Utopia and surrounding homelands

Milikapiti

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 24 – 27 January 2022
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: N/A

The locality of Milikapiti

Wessel Islands Archipelago

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 17 – 31 January 2022
Additional allowable absences: 17 – 31 January 2022
Business continuity payments: N/A

The Wessel Islands Archipelago, encompassing Elcho Island including Galiwin’ku and Wessel Island including Martjanba.

Yirrkala

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 17 – 20 January 2022
Additional allowable absences: N/A
Business continuity payments: N/A

Yirrkala

Ali Curung

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 19 – 23 December 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not yet eligible
Business continuity payments: Not applicable

Ali Curung including surrounding homelands of Imangara, Imperrenth, Double D, Junkaji and Wakurlpu

Tennant Creek

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 17 – 23 December 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not yet eligible
Business continuity payments: Not applicable

Tennant Creek

Katherine

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 15 November – 27 November 2021
Additional allowable absences: 15 November – 27 November 2021
Business continuity payments: 15 November – 28 November 2021

Katherine Town Council, including Tindal

Binjari

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 27 November – 7 December 2021
Additional allowable absences: 27 November – 7 December 2021
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Binjari

Binjari and Rockhole

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 20 – 24 November 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payment: Not eligible

Binjari and Rockhole (Northern Territory portion)

Lajamanu

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 27 November – 11 December 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Lajamanu and homelands

Robinson River

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 16 – 22 November 2021
Additional allowable absences: 16 – 22 November 2021
Business continuity payment: Not eligible

Robinson River and homelands

Katherine

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 5 – 7 November 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Katherine Town Council, including Tindal

Katherine

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 18 – 20 August 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Katherine Town Council, including Tindal

Greater Darwin

All care types

Gap fee waiver: 18 – 19 August 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Belyuen Community Government Council
City of Darwin
City of Palmerston
Litchfield Council
Wagait Shire Council
Bynoe
Charlotte
Cox Peninsula
Dundee Beach
Dundee Downs
Dundee Forest

Tasmania

South Tasmania

Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care

Gap fee waiver: 16 – 18 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Outside School Hours Care

Gap fee waiver: 16 – 18 October 2021
Additional allowable absences: Not eligible
Business continuity payments: Not eligible

Brighton Council
Central Highlands Council
Clarence City Council
Derwent Valley Council
Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council
Glenorchy City Council
Hobart City Council
Huon Valley Council
Kingsborough Council
Sorell Council
Southern Midlands Council
Tasman Council

South Australia

Before and After School Care only

Gap fee waiver: 31 January – 13 February 2022
Additional allowable absences: 31 January – 13 February 2022
Business continuity payments: Not applicable

All South Australia areas