Worker Permit Required For All Educators Working In A Childcare Service In Melbourne

From tonight, 11:59 pm Wednesday 5 August, employers that require their Educators to attend a childcare service must issue a worker permit to their Educators. 

Workplaces in Melbourne must be closed unless:

• the workplace is part of a permitted activity, or
• all employees are working from home.

Eligibility

Employers can issue a worker permit to their employee if:

• the organisation is on the list of permitted activities
• the employee is working in an approved category for on-site work, and
• the employee cannot work from home.

Casual Workers

Employers may need to issue worker permits for specified date ranges for employees who do not have regular hours.

If this means that employers need to issue separate worker permits for new rostering periods, the employee will need to carry their old worker permit, to ensure authorities can verify with their employer that they are on their way to work.

Picking Up Shifts and Last-Minute Shift Changes

Employees that are unexpectedly called in outside of their specified hours can attend their workplace.

They will need to carry the worker permit they do have, to ensure authorities can verify with their employer that they are on their way to work.

Transport To and From Work

An adult can take an essential worker to and from their place of work without a worker permit if the worker is their dependant and unable to transport themselves.

If needed, authorities must be able to confirm that travel is in accordance with the worker permit.

Carrying A Permit

Employees must carry the worker permit and should carry photo identification when travelling to and from the workplace. A worker permit can be shown electronically to authorities such as a photo, or scanned copy, on a mobile device.

Penalties of up to $19,826 (for individuals) and $99,132 (for businesses) will apply to employers who issue worker permits to employees who do not meet the requirements of the worker permit scheme or who otherwise breach the scheme requirements.

For more information, on working permits and further details: Permitted Worker Scheme