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Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland - child care service closures and local emergency provisions.

As a result of cyclone Yasi in North Queensland, child care services may be required to close during periods of local emergency. There is a possibility that families may have to pay child care fees on days when their child cannot attend care due to the current weather conditions. The Government will still pay eligible families their Child Care Benefit entitlements for periods of local emergency.

Further information for families is available in Fact Sheet 19 'Absences from child care due to a local emergency'.

An instruction sheet for child care service providers is also available to download.

More general information about absences can be found in Fact Sheet 9 'Absences from child care - Child Care Benefit (CCB)'.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has invoked Local Emergency provisions under Family Assistance Law for all Child Care Benefit Approved child care services affected by Cyclone Yasi. The local emergency arrangements have been in place since 20 December 2010 as a result of the floods and have been extended to affected areas of North Queensland as a result of cyclone Yasi.