If you’re affected by an emergency

You may be able to access extra absences and a gap fee waiver.

Your child is absent during a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency

You can get extra allowable absences during a CCS period of emergency. A CCS period of emergency can be different to an emergency declared for other support payments and services that we offer.

Read more about what is a period of emergency on the Department of Education website.

A CCS period of emergency is declared by the Department of Education and is put in place if all of these apply:

  • affects a widespread area
  • has a severe impact on the lives of a significant number of people in that area, and
  • prevents children from attending a child care service or may make attending dangerous.

These extra allowable absences will be automatically applied. This means you won’t have to use your annual allowable absences during this time.

You can find out where and for how long there is a CCS period of emergency on the Department of Education website.

Gap fee waiver during a declared CCS period of emergency

Services can waive the gap fee during a declared CCS period of emergency. This waiver can apply if your child doesn’t attend care, or if the service is closed.

It’s up to your child care service to waive the gap fee. If they choose to waive the gap fee, it can be waived partially or in full.

Page last updated: 12 February 2024.
QC 62633