The Australian Government has implemented a range of support packages to help the early childhood education and care sector manage the impact of COVID-19. Payments under these packages have ended.
On this page:
Relief Package
6 April 2020 to 12 July 2020
The Australian Government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 with the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package. A review found the Relief Package helped keep services open and viable, with 99% of 13,400 services operational as of 27 May 2020.
Transition Package
13 July 2020 to 27 September 2020
The sector returned to CCS with support from a Transition Package on 13 July 2020. In addition to CCS payments, approved providers received a 25% Transition Payment instead of JobKeeper Payments. Additional assistance was made available to services in Victoria affected by COVID-19 lockdowns. See the transition payment guidelines.
Families whose employment was affected by COVID-19 had access to extra Child Care Subsidy (CCS) hours between 13 July 2020 and 4 April 2021.
Recovery Package
28 September 2020 to 31 January 2021
The Recovery Package included payments for services in Victoria and support for services at risk of imminent closure. See the recovery payment guidelines.
Viability Support Package
23 August 2021 to 30 November 2021
Eligible child care services received business continuity payments during extended COVID-19 lockdowns. Services received payments 25–40% of their pre-lockdown revenue. See the business continuity payment guidelines.
Reports
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package: Four Week Review Summary Report
Early Childhood Education and Care and COVID-19: Path to Recovery Report
Child care in COVID-19: Summary of August services survey results
Child care in COVID-19: Summary of August parent survey results