MEDIA STATEMENT:
JOBKEEPER PACKAGE NOW ACCESSIBLE FOR MORE EARLY LEARNING AND CARE PROVIDERS
22 April 2020
Following a submission from the early learning and care sector to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) access to the Jobkeeper payment has today been enabled for the majority of early education and care providers.
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) CEO, Elizabeth Death commended the ATO for such a prompt response and the consideration of the challenges some providers were experiencing.
“Whilst the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package (ECECRP) was developed in lock step with the Jobkeeper payment package due to the diversity of business models some providers were unable to gain access to Jobkeeper.
“This contradicted the original intent of the package and was creating a number of challenges for providers who have been struggling to maintain their operation without the benefits the Jobkeeper package would deliver.”
“The Australian Government has made some remarkable decisions in the interests of keeping early learning and care services open to ensure children of essential services workers have confidence their children are in a safe and familiar educational environment during COVID-19.
“The response from the ATO today should enable more than 95% of providers across Australia to maintain their service and importantly their highly skilled and valued workforce.”
