Last updated: Thursday 16 September 2021
The Victorian Government have introduced restrictions that limit who can access Early Learning Centres (ELC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) during the current COVID-19 situation. These restrictions vary across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
As a result of these changes, the requirements for accessing our ELC and OSHC services have changed. The following service access requirements are in place until further notice.
Early Learning Centres
Early Learning is classified as an essential service and remains open across Victoria.
- Metropolitan services: open to children of authorised workers, single parents and vulnerable children.
- Regional services: open to all regional Victorian children who require care.
- Single parents are a new addition to the list of people with authorised access to early learning services.
Outside School Hours Care
Before and After School Programs are operating on a limited basis.
- Metropolitan services: open to children of authorised workers, single parents and those classified as vulnerable.
- Regional services - Prep to Grade 2: open to regional Victorian children who are currently in these year levels.
- Regional services - Grade 3 to Grade 6: open to children of authorised workers, single parents and those classified as vulnerable.
The following access requirements apply to our Spring School Holiday Program (Mon 20 Sep to Fri 1 Oct.
- Metropolitan services: open to children of authorised workers, single parents or are classified as vulnerable.
- Regional services - Students Prep to Grade 2: open to regional Victorian children who were eligible for onsite learning in Term 3.
- Regional services - Students Grade 3 to Grade 6: open to children who were eligible for onsite learning in Term 3. This includes children of authorised workers, single parents or those classified as vulnerable.
As a result of these restrictions, children who do not meet these requirements cannot attend our Spring School Holiday Program.
In addition, Happy Days Macarthur Square, which is based in New South Wales, continues operating as an essential service and is following the states COVIDSafe settings.
Our commitment to safety and hygiene remains vigilant. We will continue to monitor government updates and guidelines closely.
We will keep families informed on any updates related to our services.
A summary of how our services operate in COVIDSafe settings is detailed below.
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COVID-19 updates to services in NSW
In line with the latest restrictions announced for Greater Sydney, our early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will be operating under increased COVIDSafe settings.
For the latest information on COVIDSafe Settings, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
COVIDSafe Settings for all ECEC services
All of our Early Learning Centres across Greater Sydney 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, except in their own home. Face masks must be carried at all times. The following face mask requirements apply to teachers, educators, education support staff, parents and carers, and any essential visitors when attending an ECEC service:
- Face masks must be worn indoors when at a service, including during child pick up and drop off.
- Face masks are required to be worn outdoors where physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained from other people.
- 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.
QR Code check-in
Parents and carers who enter the site must scan the QR Code to check-in and out every time. For additional information on using QR codes, please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/check-in
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.
Child drop off and pick up
Drop off and pick up of children will be facilitated in the centres foyer. We ask parents and carers not to enter the centre beyond the foyer until further notice.
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 and incursions will be rescheduled for when restrictions are further eased.
Orientation and transition
Orientation and transition arrangements are not permitted across Greater Sydney.
Risk-mitigation strategies
The continued advice from the New South Wales Chief Health Officer and the New South Wales 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.
Further information
Service NSW COVID-19 helpline is available 24 hours a day on 13 77 88.
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COVID-19 updates to services in Victoria
COVIDSafe Settings
Where able in line with metropolitan restrictions, our Early Learning Centres and Outside School Hours Care Services in Victoria will remain closed except to children where a parent/carer is an authorised worker or a single working parent and has no access to appropriate alternative care, and for vulnerable children.
In line with regional restrictions in Victoria, our Early Learning Centres and Outside School Hours Care Services (excluding Greater Shepparton) are open for all children to attend on-site.
Our services are operating 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 are currently limited to essential operations only and 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
Drop off and pick up of children will be facilitated in the centres foyer or outside the front door. We ask parents and carers not to enter the centre beyond the foyer until further notice.
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.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.
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.
- Access to families will be restricted to the centres foyer, with staff collecting and dropping off children within this space.
- 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
If you have any questions about the above, please contact our Customer Service Team via our current families contact form or call us on (03) 8371 0500 during business hour.
Stay safe and take care.
List of metropolitan services
List of regional services
Early Learning Centres |
|
| Site Name |
Suburb |
| Lightning Reef | North Bendigo |
| Happy Days Macarthur Square | Campbelltown, NSW |
| Torquay | Torquay |
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) |
|
| Site Name |
Suburb |
| Armstrong Creek Primary | Armstrong Creek |
| Bannockburn Primary | Bannockburn |
| Castlemaine | Campbells Creek |
| Echuca Primary | Echuca |
| Holy Rosary Primary | White Hills (Bendigo) |
| Horsham | Horsham |
| Lightning Reef Primary | North Bendigo |
| Marist College Bendigo | Maiden Gully (Bendigo) |
| Sacred Heart College Yarrawonga |
Yarrawonga |
| St Francis Primary | Strathfieldsaye (Bendigo) |
| St Kilians Primary | Bendigo |
| St Liborius Primary | Eaglehawk (Bendigo) |
| St Monica's Primary School | Kangaroo Flat (Bendigo) |
| St Therese's Primary School | Kennington (Bendigo) |
| Torquay Primary | Torquay |
| Trafalgar Primary | Trafalgar |
School Holiday Programs (SHP) based in recreation facilities |
|
| Site Name |
Suburb |
| Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre | Wonthaggi |
| Bellbird Park Indoor Centre | Drouin |
| Phillip Island Leisure Centre | Cowes |
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.
Contact us form
If you have any questions about the information on this page, complete the form below and our Customer Service Team will respond.