Despite attendance rates dropping in response to stage three restrictions, Echuca’s childcare providers are still looking on the bright side.
Pink and Blue Early Learning director Leeanne Cocks said it was “full steam ahead” at the Ogilvie Ave centre, which has been offering free hours of care to its most vulnerable children.
“We lost a couple of families, especially in March, but they were coming back,” Ms Cocks said.
Since stage three restrictions rolled out, childcare providers in regional Victoria have gained the ability to waive gap fees if a child does not attend due to COVID-19 reasons and have seen the number of unexplained absentee days a child can claim jump from 42 to 72 per financial year.
The two allowances come as a relief to parents and educators, neither of whom will be out of pocket if a child fails to attend, thanks to the government paying the difference.
Ms Cocks said several of her families were making use of the additional unexplained absentee days already.
“They are doing that due to having their hours cut at work or being stood down,” she said.
Emma Mortimer sends her three-year-old son Cruz to Pink and Blue Early Learning.
“Cruz has noticed a change with some of his friends attending less or in some cases not at all,” Mrs Mortimer said.
Mrs Mortimer and her husband have continued to work throughout the pandemic, but their hours have been reduced.
“Initially (in March) when the government subsidised childcare services … it was a huge help as we had lost some income, so it made a big different for us,” she said.
“Entering stage three this time, however, there is not any additional support available to us so it’s back to the normal subsidy as prior to COVID.”
At the time of speaking, Mrs Mortimer was in isolation at home with her family awaiting COVID-19 test results after Cruz developed a temperature and a cough.
“He just got super-lethargic and was not himself. He needed to see a doctor but the doctors’ clinic wouldn’t see him until he had the test,” Mrs Mortimer said.
The family’s results came back negative.
Shine Bright EYM has eight kindergartens in Campaspe Shire. Chief executive Suzi Sordan said attendance across their centres has dropped significantly, particularly in Bendigo where there are more than 40 active cases of COVID-19.
“I think there’s a direct correlation with the number of positive cases that has an impact on attendance levels,” Ms Sordan said.
“I also think because primary schools are closed, sometimes it’s easier for families to keep all the children home at the same time.”
Not-for-profit organisation Intereach runs family day care throughout the Riverina and northern Victoria regions.
In Echuca, there are five Intereach day care educators who care for groups of children in their own homes.
Intereach family day care supervisor Rebecca Fitzpatrick said the organisation was fortunate to recently receive the ability to waive gap fees when absence was caused by COVID-19.
“This will mean families can keep their child’s enrolment for when things resume to normal and not have to incur financial hardship,” Mrs Fitzpatrick said.
In contrast to other providers, Intereach’s enrolment numbers have remained stable through the pandemic, and in some areas inquiries have increased.
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