Last updated: Wednesday 16 June 2021

The Victorian Government has announced that restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne will begin easing from 11.59pm on Thursday 17 June 2021.

This means that early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will operate under the same COVIDSafe Settings.

For the latest information on COVIDSafe Settings, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

COVIDSafe Settings for all ECEC services, including Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

All of our Early Learning Centres across Victoria are open, with appropriate risk mitigation measures in place.

Please see below updated information on our COVIDSafe Settings at all services.

Face masks

Unless a lawful exemption applies, any person aged 12 and over must wear a fitted face mask at all times when indoors at a service, and outdoors when physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained during child pick up and drop off.

Teachers, educators and education support staff are not required to wear face masks while educating or caring for children, but those who wish to do so, can.

Community facilities

Our community facilities will remain closed until further notice.

QR Code check-in

QR code check-ins are required for all visitors who enter our services, including:

• all visitors, including contractors, external staff and building and maintenance staff
• all parents and carers.

Parents and carers need to check-in at both drop off and pick up. It is important to avoid congregation around QR code points during these peak periods.

QR code check-ins are not required for service staff or children.

Visitors to services

Visitors must comply with face mask requirements and keep at least 1.5 metres from others whenever possible and ensure good hand hygiene.

A density limit of one person per four square metres will be applied to the reception area.

Metropolitan areas - virtual tours will be conducted for all until further notice.

Regional areas - in-person tours of services may be conducted.

Child drop off and pick up

We are required to maintain a density limit of one person per four square metres in reception and thoroughfare areas. During busy periods this may require staggered entry into services.

Parents and carers must wear a face mask when indoors and should keep at least 1.5 metres from others wherever possible.

Temperature checking

Temperature checking is not required.

Excursions and incursions

Excursions will not be conducted, except for visiting a nearby park as part of an educational program.

Incursions will be rescheduled.

Orientation and transition

Orientation and transition arrangements are not permitted across Victoria. Individual scheduled orientation sessions for new starters can occur with one parent or carer in attendance, if required.

Any parent or carer in attendance must comply with face mask requirements, and maintain at least 1.5 metres physical distance from others, whenever possible.

Singing and music

Group singing activities and playing wind and brass instruments is permitted with risk mitigation measures in place such as moving outdoors, increasing ventilation, and maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres between performers.

Risk-mitigation strategies

The continued advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer and the Victorian Government is that ECEC services remain safe for staff and children.

We are continuing all recommended risk-mitigation strategies, such as cleaning, good hand hygiene and outdoor air ventilation, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in early childhood settings.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19

To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community, staff and children should stay at home if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, and get tested immediately.

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

OSHC services will be operating in line with schools and following the COVIDSafe Settings.

Based on advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, schools in metropolitan Melbourne will return to face-to-face teaching for all students from and including Friday 11 June 2021.

OSHC programs operating in schools in metropolitan Melbourne can recommence for all students on Friday 11 June 2021.

Parents and carers must wear a face mask during drop off and pick up and should keep at least 1.5 metres from others wherever possible.

Metropolitan areas - parents and carers must not enter rooms. Educators will meet children at the door.

Regional areas – parents and carers may enter rooms for drop off and pick up.

Mental health and wellbeing

Your mental health and wellbeing is important. Support and resources are available to support you through this time:

• Mental health resources - COVID-19
• Beyond Blue
• Headspace
• Black Dog Institute

Further information

The Department’s COVID-19 helpline is available weekdays from 8.30am to 5pm on 1800 338 663. If you need an interpreter, call 131 450 first.

Our commitment to safety and hygiene remains vigilant, and we will continue to monitor government updates and guidelines closely.

Please remember:

• If you, your child, or a family member develops symptoms of a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, you should get tested at a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing facility and stay home.
• Wear a mask at all times at drop-off and pick-up.
• Please do not enter children’s rooms. Please wait for an educator to meet you at the door for drop-off and pick-up.
• Notify our staff if anyone in your family has been unwell or recently tested.
• Practice good hygiene of handwashing for at least 20 seconds and sanitising when entering and exiting any locations.
• Maintain physical distancing, keep at least 1.5 metres away from others.

If our staff identify your child as being unwell, we will need to prevent them from entering our service for the health and safety of other children and staff. Similarly, if a child displays symptoms of being unwell, its critical parents/guardians respect the health and safety of others at the centre and collect them immediately.

If you have frequented any of the exposure sites during the nominated timeframes, please stay home and get tested. 
 
There are a number of information and support channels available:
Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned, call the coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398 (24 Hours).

Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.

Translated resources: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Should you have any questions about the above information, please contact our Customer Service Team via email (cp.support@ymca.org.au) or call (03) 8371 0500.

Stay safe and take care.

List of metropolitan services

List of regional services

Interpreting resources and support services:

• Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned about coronavirus symptoms call the dedicated 24 hour hotline on 1800 675 398.
• Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
• Translated resources: the Department of Health and Human Services website has a variety of COVID-19 translated information for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• SBS News: News and information about COVID-19 is available in 63 languages.

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If you have any questions about the information on this page, complete the form below and our Customer Service Team will respond.