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This procedure will be updated as the COVID-19 situation and advice changes. Last updated on Thursday 19th March 2020
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IMPORTANT
If you or your partner has lost income as a consequence to the COVID-19 pandemic and you are suffering financial hardship you will be eligible for 13 weeks grant to cover the costs of childcare for 13 weeks. Please call the office on 90361504 to discuss your situation.
This grant is important because:
- You will recover from COVID-19
- You will need to look for alternative work
- You will need childcare
- Your educators viability is at stake.
You can find out about eligibility via this link https://guides.dss.gov.au/family-assistance-guide/2/8/3/20
You can apply via MyGov and selecting Centrelink and then 'My Family' the 'Temporary Financial Hardship' see below screenshot.
International modelling suggests that this virus will have lasting disruptions for the next 12 to 18 months. We expect that there will be viral outbreaks that will come in waves. During the peak of each wave the Australian government will tighten social distancing rules.
During the next 12 - 18 months Educators and Families will need to ensure their homes are virus free sanctuaries.
What does social distancing mean for Family Day Care?
- If a child is unwell send them home. Children with symptoms must get tested and return a negative result prior to returning to care.
- No physical contact with families
- Wash hands and clothes after prolonged contact with children.
- Disinfect FDC premises on a regular basis.
- Self isolation if you have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 person or arrived from overseas.
- Contact tracing when a member is confirmed COVID-19. Contact tracing is a very detailed and fastidious process whereby authorities interview all people that came into contact with a confirmed case in the 24 hours prior to symptoms showing - this is not something completed by the general public.
Countries that have seen a reduction in infection rates like Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan check body temperatures prior to entering any building. If any child has a temperature they will be sent home. Families are requested to monitor their Child's temperature. Educators should consider a contactless forehead thermometer or similar device with single use hygiene system.
We are implementing these procedures to ensure that we can offer a patchwork of services during this time. If a FDC centre is closed due to infection, we want to be in a position to offer alternative education to families who have medical clearance.
Our FDC centres will only remain open if we adapt our hygiene procedures to ensure that our homes remain virus free sanctuaries. We are all in this together. Parents, Educators, Children - lets look out for each other.
What do I need to do to ensure my home is a virus free sanctuary?
1 - Disinfect all surfaces with soapy water or antibacterial wipes at the beginning and end of your sessions of care or after contact with potentially contaminated objects.
- Front door handles
- Child sign in/ sign out area including table surface and pens.
- Tables and kitchen benches
- Chairs (including the back of the chair where people carry them)
- Mop hard floors with soapy water and disinfectant when your last child has gone home.
Here is a link with information confirming household cleaning agents that are effective against COVID-19
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/food-safety/food-businesses/covid-19-and-food-business
2 - Updated Arrival Procedures
- Parents sign in from outside the front door and leave promptly without entering the house
- Remove shoes
- Leave the child's shoes outside the front door
- Take the child directly to the hand washing station.
3 - Wash Hands
- When anyone arrives into your home
- Prior to eating
- When any new potentially contaminated object is handled in your home (post, shopping, bags, lunchboxes etc)
Everyone who enters the home needs to wash their hands with soapy water for the duration of Twinkle Twinkle little star. There is a technique to washing hands as explained on the attached poster.
https://www.who.int/gpsc/media/how_to_handwash_lge.gif
Please print this poster and place at the hand washing station
4 - Modify and adapt games and toys.
- Limit the sharing of toys that are handled by multiple children. For example, a bicycle or scooter is something one child uses - this is preferable to a basket ball that many children could contact and spread the virus.
- Do not take children to libraries. Do not bring library books to your home
- Cancel trips to public parks and spaces that have multiple contact surfaces. No swings, slides, monkey bars etc. Play in open fields, fly kites, make craft, hopscotch, bicycles and scooters.
- Think about games, art and craft where children can be independent - encourage them to wash or wipe surfaces when finished.
5 - How can families support educators to keep their homes virus free sanctuaries?
- If your child is unwell, keep them home. Make the call about your own child's health, do not bring your child in to care for the educator to ascertain whether they are sick enough.
- Follow the above educators guide to keeping the virus out of your home
- Keep child toys at home, do not bring toys to your educators home.
- Keep change of clothes in a plastic bag in your child's bag.
- Make sure you are providing your educator with your childs drinking bottle with their name clearly printed on it.
- Follow department of health guidelines on self isolation and travel restrictions.
- Follow us on Facebook for regular updates https://www.facebook.com/IgniteMinds/
- Check in on our COVID-19 Pandemic Action Plan https://www.igniteminds.com.au/blog/COVID-19