MCM statement on the outcome of the new childcare funding for its Early Learning Centres

The introduction of the Commonwealth Government’s Early Childhood and Care Relief Package on Monday 6 April cut MCM's childcare centre funding in half and prompted MCM to actively advocate to government and in the media for a viable solution to be urgently found to sustain our Early Childhood Education Centres during the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Friday 1 May, the Commonwealth Department of Education Skills & Employment announced good news for not for profit charities such as MCM, who run childcare centres and are not eligible for the government’s Job Keeper wage subsidy: we are to receive an increase to the base payment for the pandemic funding arrangements. 

This comes as a great relief as it means we now have an assurance that we will receive some additional funding to keep our ELCs open and running throughout the pandemic. 

MCM is still waiting to receive more detail, including the amount of funding to be made available to us, and we are hopeful this will be provided next week. We are keeping staff and families attending our ELCs updated on developments as they come to hand. 

MCM Chief Executive Officer, Vicki Sutton, said “We are very relieved. MCM wants to keep these centres available to support families and to continue to employ our valued staff at a time they need us the most. We are grateful to the Commonwealth for listening to our sector and responding.”

Find out more about MCM’s Early Learning Centres. 

To arrange an interview with Vicki Sutton, please contact our Media Manager on 0428 169 152.