From our office
Half way through the year already! It's amazing how quickly the time flies. It certainly feels good to be welcoming back the cooler weather! I hope everyone has had a good start of the winter season so far, as we slowly but surely return to a sense of normality. So, given the colder weather that is incoming, I would like to reiterate the importance of not sending sick children into childcare. A child who is not feeling well needs to be with their parents/grandparents at home. . The aim of exclusion is to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Please watch for symptoms such as fever, drowsiness, decreased activities, breathing difficulties, poor feeding, sensitivity, pain, rashes,... and if in doubt please seek medical advice without delay.
A few dates to remember
The photo days have been booked in for Tuesday the 23rd of June and the 24th of June, from 9am to 12pm. In your child's bag you should have found an envelope. We ask that you please complete the details on that envelope, selecting the appropriate options and returning it to the centre at your earliest convenience.
Next month, on Friday, 17.7.2020 is a National Pyjama Day, the comfiest day of the year is coming and we will wear pyjamas to support children in foster care. More details to follow soon.
Finally, on the 21.06.2020 we are turning 10! It's so hard to believe that it's already been 10 years, but does surely fly by when you're having fun! I want to thank everyone, the staff members past and present. The families that have been here for years, and the families that have been here for months! Together, we have built a community that has lasted a decade, and will surely continue to grow, blossom and flourish!
Return to Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
As you would be aware, due to the impact of COVID-19 the Australian Government introduced the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package to support early learning services and allow them to remain operating whilst ensuring that, at a minimum, 'essential workers' were able to access quality education and care for their children during the pandemic. The package came into effect on Monday 6 April and during this time, families have not been charged any fees to access childcare. In effect families have received 'free childcare' during this time. As you may have seen in the media, the arrangements under this Relief Package are now scheduled to conclude at midnight 12 July 2020. We are therefore getting ready for the return of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).Over the past few months, we have experienced numerous changes in terms of child attendance. We may have changed the timing of care sessions for your child or perhaps your child has not attended our service since the health crisis began to unfold. To help us move beyond the current arrangements, we are asking all families to get in touch with Natasa by 29.6.2020, to discuss your ongoing attendance needs (ie. number of days, hours, etc).We will then be able to confirm bookings and enrolments and calculate an estimation of the gap fees payable each fortnight – this will include the latest CPI increase to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). In some cases, you may need to confirm this new enrolment through your MyGov account. Below is a statement to families from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which we urge you to act upon, in order to ensure that you continue to receive the CCS beyond 13 July. If you received Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for 2018-2019 you are required to confirm your income with Centrelink. This includes CCS paid directly to you and CCS paid on your behalf to your childcare provider. Most parents have already confirmed their income, but if you haven't, do it now. If you don't confirm your income by 30 June 2020, your CCS will stop on 13 July 2020.To confirm your income with Centrelink, you and your partner need to either: lodge your tax returns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)complete an 'Advise non-lodgement of tax return' in your Centrelink online account through myGov or your Express Plus Centrelink mobile app If you've already confirmed your family income for 2018-2019, there's nothing else you need to do. From 13 July onwards, our service will reintroduce fees. As per our Payment of Fees Policy, fees are payable in advance of your child's attendance. Invoices will therefore be sent out from 6.7.2020.To ensure a smooth transition back to CCS, please do not hesitate to speak with management personally to discuss any of the above. We appreciate that the employment and income of some families has changed, and we encourage you to speak with our team to ensure that you are receiving all of the subsidies to which you are entitled, taking into considerations options such as the 'relaxed' Activity Test, as well as the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) for Temporary Financial Hardship. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support during the past few difficult months. We are excited to return to the 'new normal' and look forward to focussing our attention on educating and caring for your children.
Keep smiling, Natasa