NSW Floods support and assistance
Stay informed
SES - publishes current warnings and provides information and advice about staying safe in a flood.
Bureau of Meteorology website - for up-to-date information about the weather in your area.
- Flood warning system - the Bureau has set up a flood watch for your local area
Government assistance
- Service NSW Storm and Flood customer care and Disaster and emergency assistance for business - access resources if you have been impacted by flooding.
- The NSW Disaster Assistance Finder Tool - get a personalised list of available programs and services you can apply for.
- NSW Government support - for businesses or not-for-profits affected by severe weather and flooding in NSW.
- The Community Child Care Fund – Special Circumstances grants to help services stay open.
Streamlined applications and notification processes
If you’ve been impacted by floods and need to temporarily relocate, apply for a waiver or increase maximum number of children in your service, find more information via Get regulatory support webpage.
Services are required to notify the department of any closures, incidents, evacuations, or damage to premises. You can notify through NQAITS by completing the I01: Notification of Incident.
While the regulations require this to be done within 24 hours, services should ensure the safety of children, educators and staff as a first priority.
If you are having issues with accessing NQAITS, please contact our team by phone 1800 619 113 or email ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.
If you have lost paper or electronic records from your service due to the floods and these are not retrievable, please advise us as part of your notification.
Funding arrangements
Payments will continue to be progressed as scheduled for the following programs:
Start Strong for community preschools and long day care services
Start Strong Free Preschool
Mobile Preschools on contract
Start Strong Pathways
Aboriginal Families as Teachers
Ninganah No More.
Australian Government funded services, including those who receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) should contact the Australian Government for further advice and information.
Family support
Use the Starting Blocks ECEC finder to search for early childhood education and care services.
Contact the department by calling 1800 619 113 or emailing ececd@det.nsw.edu.au
Additional Child Care Subsidy – families that are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy may be eligible for the Temporary Financial Hardship Subsidy
NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants for individuals – financial assistance for eligible individuals and families whose homes have been damaged by a natural disaster.
Early childhood guided learning packages - Families can access the easy-to-use timetabled activities to support continuity of learning for children who are unable to attend their service.
Child care subsidy
During periods of emergency, the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment will declare impacted regions of NSW as a Local Area Emergency for the ECE sector.
If your service is located in a region outlined on their Local Area Emergencies webpage, services and families can access more allowable absences and gap free waivers, and there is emergency support available.
You can find important information about this on their Help in an emergency webpage.
Families that are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy may also be eligible for the Temporary Financial Hardship Subsidy.
Mental health and wellbeing resources
- Service NSW - offers a range of free mental health support including 24/7 telephone services.
- Disaster recovery page - access a range of mental health and wellbeing resources for children, educators, families and the community.
- Emerging Minds Community Trauma Toolkit – offers support for adults and children before, during and after a disaster or traumatic event.