mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Families
Child Care Subsidy and child care
You won’t need to pay child care fees when you access child care between 6
April and 28 June 2020.
During this time, you should:

enrol or re-enrol your child with a service
keep your child enrolled
continue using child care as you need.

If you need to enrol or re-enrol your child you should talk to your child care
service. You’ll also need to confirm their
enrolment
with us.
If you need to find a child care service, you can use the Child Care
Finder website.
What else you need to know is different if:

you were getting Child Care Subsidy before 6 April 2020
you’re new to child care.

If you were getting Child Care Subsidy before 6 April 2020
You won’t get Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy during this
time. But you should make sure you stay eligible for Child Care
Subsidy, for example
by:

continuing to care for your child at least 14% of the time
meeting immunisation requirements
telling us if you have a change in your circumstances.

On 29 June 2020, your Child Care Subsidy will start again as long as you stay
eligible. There’s nothing you’ll need to do to start it again.
You should continue to update your family income
estimate as necessary, especially if you get Family Tax Benefit.
Fees before 6 April 2020
Your child care service may waive your out of pocket fees between 23 March and
5 April 2020. You should speak to them about this.
Absences before 6 April 2020
Due to coronavirus, you have 20 extra absences per child for the 2019-20
financial year. This means you can get up to 62 absences this year for any
reason.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) Temporary Financial Hardship claims
before 6 April 2020
If you’ve already claimed ACCS Temporary Financial Hardship, we can only pay
it to 5 April 2020.
There’s no need to claim it between 6 April and 28 June 2020 as you won’t need
to pay fees.
Centrepay deductions
If you pay your fees through
Centrepay, remember to check
your deductions. You can suspend or cancel them if you need.
Use our online help guides to either suspend your
deduction or cancel your
deduction.
If you’re new to child care
You may want to start getting Child Care Subsidy when it starts again on 29
June 2020.
You should claim now,
even though we won’t pay it until late June.
Read more about if you’re new to child care.
Families
Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
Coronavirus may impact your Family Tax Benefit (FTB). This includes if:

your family income changes
your child’s over 16 and can’t study.

If your family income changes
Your family income estimate affects how much FTB you can get. If you or
your partner stop work, your family’s income may change. Read our guide about
how to update your income estimate.
What to include in your income estimate
You may need to include some payments you or your partner get from us in your
family income estimate. These include:

JobSeeker Payment
Parenting Payment
Coronavirus Supplement.

If you get JobKeeper Payment from your employer, you also need to include it in your income
estimate.
Read more about what to include in your income
estimate.
What you don’t need to include in your income estimate
The following income is non-taxable and doesn’t need to be included in your
family income estimate:

the $750 Economic Support Payment
superannuation released early under COVID-19 early release of super.

If your child’s over 16 and can’t study
When your child turns 16, you may continue to get FTB for them. However, they
need to be in full time secondary study or
exempt from the study requirements.
Your child may still meet these study requirements even if:

they’re sick or isolated
their school closes
you choose to keep them away as a precautionary measure.

If they intend to return to study, you’ll continue to qualify for FTB. There’s
nothing you need to do.
Families
Parental Leave Pay
In most cases, your employer pays your Parental Leave
Pay. If your employer
can’t pay you because of coronavirus, we can pay you.
Tell us about this change online. Sign in to your Centrelink online
account through
myGov, then select Parental Leave Pay Circumstances.
If we haven't assessed your claim yet, call the Families
line.
If you get JobKeeper Payment
You can’t get JobKeeper Payment and Parental Leave Pay at the same time.
To get Parental Leave Pay you must be on leave or not working. This is from
your child’s birth or adoption until the end of your Paid Parental Leave
period. You can get Parental Leave Pay after your JobKeeper Payment ends, if
you didn’t work during that time.
If you returned to work, you can’t get Parental Leave Pay when your
JobKeeper Payment ends.
The Work Test
To be eligible for Parental Leave Pay you need to meet the work
test.
JobKeeper Payment also
counts towards the work test.
If you can’t get Parental Leave Pay, you may be able to get Newborn Upfront
Payment and Newborn Supplement. This is after your child’s birth.
You may be eligible for another payment now. Find out more if you need a
payment because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you stopped work because of the risk to your pregnancy
Depending on your individual work circumstances, we may move your work test
period under the Dangerous Job provisions. If you had to stop working
due to the risk of coronavirus, you may still meet the work
test. You
must provide proof from your employer and a medical professional. This proof
must confirm you stopped work because of the risk to your pregnancy.
Families
Additional payments
If you get Family Tax Benefit you may get 1 or both Economic Support
Payments. We'll
pay these into your bank account automatically.
If you get Parenting Payment you may get the Coronavirus
Supplement from late
April 2020. We'll pay this as part of your normal payment. You may also get
the first Economic Support
Payment. We'll pay
this into your bank account automatically.
You won’t get the second Economic Support Payment in July 2020 if you get the
Coronavirus Supplement.
Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Home delivery of medicines
Home delivery is a good option if you are isolating, are more vulnerable to
serious illness, or prefer to stay at home.
Call your preferred pharmacy or check their website to see whether:

they have your medicine in stock
they offer home delivery
you can order online or over the phone

If needed, you can ask a friend or family member to place an order for you.
If you have a paper prescription, you must post it or get someone to take it
to the pharmacy before they can deliver the medicine.
If your doctor sent a digital copy of the prescription, the pharmacy will send
the medicine to the address on the prescription.
Make sure your doctor and pharmacist have your correct address.
Delivery drivers should practise physical distancing
when they deliver the medicine. This means they may:

not ask for a signature
leave the package near your door instead of handing it to you directly

Delivery drivers may also wear protective gear, such as face masks and gloves,
as a precaution. This does not mean they are unwell.
Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Getting medicine from a pharmacy in person
You can continue to get medicine from a pharmacy in person if you are healthy.
Remember to practise physical distancing.
Pharmacy staff may wear protective gear, such as face masks and gloves, as a
precaution. This does not mean they are unwell.
If you cannot get to a pharmacy and home delivery is not an option, ask a
friend or family member to fill your prescription for you.
Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Paper and digital copy prescriptions
Doctors can provide you with a paper prescription or send a digital copy of
the prescription to your preferred pharmacy following a telehealth
consultation.
If your doctor sends a digital copy to a pharmacy, you must fill the
prescription at that pharmacy. If there are any repeats on the prescription,
the repeats must be kept at that pharmacy. You can contact the pharmacy to
arrange the next supply of your medicine when you need it.
Your doctor is legally required to keep the paper prescription if they have
sent the digital copy to a pharmacy.
If you already have a paper prescription at home, you can ask a friend or
family member to fill this prescription at your preferred pharmacy if you are
isolating. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor for a digital copy of a new
prescription to be sent to your pharmacy following a telehealth
consultation.
See our guide for patients on how to access prescriptions and prescription
medications via telehealth.
You can get most medicines with a digital copy of a prescription. If your
medicine is restricted under legislation, your doctor can only provide a paper
prescription.
Getting medicines during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Home delivery of medicines
Delivery service for vulnerable groups and people in isolation
The Home Medicines Service offers free home
delivery of:

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) medicines

You can use the service if you are:

isolating at home on the advice of a medical practitioner or a COVID-19 hotline
aged over 70
an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged over 50
immunocompromised or have a chronic health condition
a parent of a new baby
pregnant
an aged care home resident, if your facility does not use another home delivery service

The service may be available from any pharmacy approved to supply PBS and RPBS
medicines.
Each delivery through the service must include at least one PBS or RPBS
medicine. You can order other items as part of the same delivery.
You can access the service free once a month. If you want more deliveries,
pharmacies may charge a fee.
Learn more about the Home Medicines
Service or contact your preferred pharmacist for
details.
Good hygiene for coronavirus (COVID-19)
When you are well
Everyone – even when well – can help slow the spread of COVID-19.
This means:

wash your hands often with soap and water. This includes before and after eating and after going to the toilet
use alcohol-based hand sanitisers when you can’t use soap and water
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
clean and disinfect surfaces you use often such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs
clean and disinfect objects you use often such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes
use tap and go instead of cash where possible
increase the amount of fresh air by opening windows or changing air conditioning

There is no evidence that alcohol-free hand rubs are effective against viruses
like COVID-19. Experts recommend you don’t use them.
Good hygiene for coronavirus (COVID-19)
When you are sick
As we move towards living COVIDSafe, it is important that you stay at home if
you feel unwell. You should also continue to practise good hygiene.
If you have cold or flu like symptoms you should seek medical advice and get
tested for COVID-19. You should get
tested even if your symptoms are mild.
If you have COVID-19 you must isolate and follow the
directions of your local Public Health Unit.
0:30  Read transcript
To help stop the spread of viruses
like the flu or coronavirus
good hygiene is essential.
That starts with washing your hands thoroughly
with soap and water
whenever you cough, sneeze or blow your nose,
prepare food or eat, care for someone sick,
touch your face, or use the toilet.
Remember to cough or sneeze into your arm
or a tissue. Bin the tissue and wash your hands.
Together, we can help stop the spread
and stay healthy.
Visit australia.gov.au
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.  
Everyone must also stay 1.5 metres away from other people whenever possible.
This is called physical distancing.
Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Our response plan
The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Short Form outlines how key activities will operate and how the
public can support the response. It outlines:

what we know about the disease and the outbreak
what sort of risk COVID‐19 represents
what the Australian Government health sector will be doing to respond
how the Government’s response will affect people
what people can do to contribute
how people can manage their own risk, the risk to their families and their communities

As we learn more about COVID-19 we are:

regularly reviewing our response
moving resources into activities that are working well
scaling back activities that are not working

The plan focuses on government activities. But many government and private
agencies are working together to support the Australian Government response.
Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Short Form 
The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus
(Short Form) outlines how key activities will operate and how the public can
support the response.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on
COVID-19 has developed a Management Plan which supports the
COVID-19 Plan’s objectives.
Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Populations
The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus
guides the Australian health sector response. This Management Plan focuses on
culturally appropriate testing and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples, and for specific locations including remote communities.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has published
the Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability.
More information for people with disability is available on the Department of
Social Service's website.
Management and Operational Plan for People with
Disability
The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus
guides the Australian health sector response. This management and operational
plan focuses on people with disability. There is an easy read version on this
page, too.
The Communicable Diseases Network Australia
(CDNA) has published the Australian National Disease Surveillance Plan
for COVID-19.
Australian National Disease Surveillance Plan for
COVID-19
This plan outlines the national approach for disease surveillance for
COVID-19. Information that is collected through this plan helps inform public
health measures for control of COVID-19 in Australia.
Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak
What you can do
Help us stop the spread of the virus by:

staying informed through our COVID-19 health alert, which is updated every day
keeping in touch with friends and family to make sure they’re well
taking steps to protect yourself and others, such as practising good hygiene and quarantining yourself if you’re sick
staying healthy and making use of the ongoing support available
being a smart traveller — read our COVID-19 advice for travellers
Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak
What we are doing now
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading through international travel, the
Government is:

applying travel restrictions
screening travellers who arrive in Australia and ensuring they quarantine on arrival
continuing with border surveillance

The Government is also:

delivering a $17.6 billion economic support package to encourage investment and keep people in jobs
delivering a $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians
providing $669 million to expand Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians so everyone has access to quality healthcare while at home
delivering support to Australians experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence due to the fallout of coronavirus
providing $48.1 million for the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan in addition to $74 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians
funding home delivery of most prescription medicines for those unable to get to their local pharmacy
securing face masks to help protect our medical professionals
tracing coronavirus cases
providing information on our response and how you can protect yourself and others in English and other languages
putting limits on some prescription and over the counter medications, to make sure those who need them can access them

State and territory health authorities are:

testing people suspected of having the virus
monitoring close contacts of confirmed cases every day
imposing travel restrictions between states
opening fever clinics
Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Who manages the response
State and territory governments are mainly responsible for health matters.
When a major health issue like COVID-19 faces our country, they:

work together with the Australian Government
share information so they can provide the best possible care
ensure the response is consistent and integrated across the country

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) makes key
decisions and coordinates this response.
The AHPPC is made up of:

the Chief Health Officers from each state and territory
the Chief Medical Officer
representatives from key departments

It meets daily to assess the risk to Australia and recommend public health
actions. The AHPPC endorsed the Government’s emergency response plan.
The Australian Government has put together a team of widely respected
clinicians, led
by the Chief Medical Officer, to assist with the COVID-19 response.
Australia.gov.au
Visit Australia.gov.au to learn more about
COVID-19 support from all of government including financial support and advice
for businesses and employees, help for education providers, advice on domestic
and international travel and other community services.
Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Our aims
The Australian Government’s health response to the COVID-19 outbreak aims to:

minimise the number of people becoming infected or sick with COVID-19
minimise how sick people become and the mortality rate
manage the demand on our health systems
help you to manage your own risk and the risk to your family and community

Australia has been highly successful in 'flattening the curve'. The number of
new COVID-19 cases in Australia each day is very low. We are now beginning to
take careful steps to ease some of our restricitions that have helped us
suppress the spread of the virus. Find out more about our 3-step
plan.
Our response to COVID-19 has been informed by modelling of the impact of
COVID-19.
The modelling finds our health system will cope if we if we continue to:

have effective physical distancing
increase our health system capacity
isolate people with the virus and their close contacts

Decisions about the steps we take towards a COVIDSafe Australia are being
informed by intelligence and surveillance.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia – Pandemic Health Intelligence
Plan
The Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan provides a framework for collecting the
information required to support decision making about COVID-19.
Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Coronavirus and food safety
Meal planning
Planning ahead means fewer visits to the shops. You can use a meal
planner to plan an entire week’s meals and create a
shopping list.
Make extra servings of meals like soups, curries and stews and freeze them to
use later. Having some extra meals in the freezer is handy for days when you
don’t feel like cooking or you’re unwell.
You could try a meal kit delivery service such as Hello Fresh, Dinnerly,
Marley Spoon or others. Check what’s available in your area to see what each
service offers and what options suit your budget.
Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Coronavirus and food safety
Grocery shopping
Unless you are required to isolate, you can still go out
to shop for food. Just make sure you’re following physical
distancing requirements.
Some extra things you can do to stay safe while shopping include:

using a list so your visit is short and you don’t need to go out again to purchase forgotten items
choosing a time when fewer people are likely to be there
wiping down your shopping trolley or basket with hand sanitiser or disinfectant — many supermarkets are providing these items for customers to use before entering the store
using cards instead of cash
washing your hands or using hand sanitiser after leaving the store

Some things you can do to make food last longer, so you make fewer trips to
the supermarket, include:

buying food items that keep their nutritional value while stored or frozen. Frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables are picked while at their best and can be a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. Look for tinned fruit in natural juice, rather than syrup.
using cuts of meat, or beans and legumes that are suitable for stews and curries. This can often provide more than one meal as leftovers can be frozen.

Shopping online and having your order delivered, contact free, is a handy way
to stock up your fridge and pantry without leaving the house. Check with your
supermarket to see if this service is available in your area.
Assistance with grocery shopping and meals is available for older people who may need support.
Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Healthy eating during COVID-19 restrictions
There are many ways for Australians to choose foods that promote their health
and wellbeing. The Australian Dietary
Guidelines provide
recommendations for healthy eating that are realistic and practical. Most
importantly, the recommendations are based on the best available scientific
evidence.
The Australian Guide to Healthy
Eating covers the 5 food groups and the recommended amounts you should eat
every day. These include:

plenty of vegetables, including different types and colours, and legumes/beans
fruit
grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties, such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley
lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans
milk yoghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives

Health eating habits include:

being physically active and choosing amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs
enjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods
drinking plenty of water
limiting intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt and added sugars such as biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, processed meats, commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips, crisps and other sugary or savoury snacks
limiting intake of alcohol
caring for your food — preparing and storing it safely
Healthy eating during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Coronavirus and food safety
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease spreading from person to person. It is not a
foodborne disease. There’s no evidence to suggest people will get infected by
swallowing the virus in, or on, food or drink. However, it is always a good
idea to practise safe handling and preparation of food. When preparing and
storing your food:

maintain good hygiene practices
wash fresh fruit and vegetables under running water before eating
avoid preparing food for other people if you have symptoms of respiratory illness

Businesses need to follow any social distancing requirements outlined by the
Australian and New Zealand Governments.
For more information visit Food Standards Australia New
Zealand.
During COVID-19, it is important to be aware of false and misleading
advertising and claims about particular food products preventing or curing
COVID-19. If you are suspicious of claims being made about a food product,
including those advertised as preventing or curing COVID-19, you can contact
the relevant food enforcement agency in your state or
territory.