In October 2023 the Department of Education announced the Child Care Demand Portal, the first phase of an Early Learning Gateway that is being developed as an information management system for the Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Division.

Why is this relevant for ECEs?

Families and/or caregivers seeking child care are encouraged to input information in the portal regarding the age range of their child(ren), the type of care they are looking for, and whether their child(ren) is on a waitlist. This information will support the government’s ability to assess how to meet the needs of these families, which would include the ELCC workforce.

Encouraging the families at your centre who are perhaps looking for additional care for siblings (in the case where there is no space available where you are working) as well as families that you know that are looking for child care would support this work.’
Click here to directly access the Child Care Demand Portal.

Click here to read the government release on this topic.