A new package which encourages parents to send their children to childcare and keep working through the COVID-19 pandemic has been welcomed by Dubbo parents.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the package on Thursday, with childcare centres to receive payments directly from the government, on the condition they don't charge parents with fees.
Dubbo mother Stacey Walker welcomed the plan saying she was sending her 11 month old son to family daycare because she didn't have another alternative.
"I'm still sending Aldo to daycare because I don't have another alternative, especially with us not being able to go to family members houses, it's my only option."
She said however she had cut back her days at work to reduce the amount of time her son was exposed to other people.
"I'm very happy about the announcement. I'm only sending him one day a week, but I'm still paying for two days as I don't want to loose my spot once this is all over but with the reduced income it will help big time," she said.
Mrs Walker said while she is worried about her son catching COVID-19, she thinks it is definitely a good idea to keep centres open and she is doing what she can to reduce the risks as much as possible.
"It means that people are able to keep their jobs and keep the economy kicking over as much as is possible in this current crisis," she said.
Under the new plan the government will look at what 50 per cent of a center's fees up to the rate cap were in the fortnight before March 2. It will then pay the centre that amount each fortnight.
This has involved a reworking of the childcare payment system for the government and will make these payments to services in lieu of any child care subsidy and additional child care subsidy.
The payments will go to childcare centres' bank accounts, where they usually receive the childcare subsidy.
The government has told childcare centres they should encourage parents to re-enrol if they have ceased their enrolement before these measures were announced, with the packaged designed to bring back families that have already pulled out.
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