Changes to the priority of access guidelines stated in the June 2019 Child Care Provider Handbook ONLY apply to approved providers of early learning and child care under the Family Assistance Law where services receive and pass on Child Care Subsidy payments to eligible families.
These original guidelines were attached to the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate schemes.
As part of the Universal Access National Partnership (UANP) agreement between the Commonwealth and States and Territories governments, child care services involved must adhere to priority of access guidelines. These guidelines differ from those previously outlined in the Child Care Benefit (CCB).
Priority of access for initiatives such as Start Strong in NSW require services to provide equal priority of access for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, indigenous children and children in outer regional, remote and very remote services.
Please refer to the Department of Education in your state or territory for further information about universal access to quality early childhood education programs and initiatives.