Due to predicted severe weather, we ask that you make safe decisions regarding your trip to and from our service.
Please take care and keep up to date through the Live Traffic NSW, BOM and SES websites.
Responding to severe weather warnings – May 2025
Updates on severe weather warnings for areas of NSW, due to heavy rain and damaging winds.
20 May 2025
Recent updates
- 21 May 2025 – The Commonwealth Government has declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency in parts of New South Wales due to severe weather. Read more about support during a CCS period of emergency.
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.
- Hazards near me app – provides current and local information.
- Live Traffic – find incidents along a route by entering an origin and destination.
Service closures and notifications
Services are required to notify the department of any closures, incidents, evacuations, or damage to premises. 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. The approved provider is responsible for deciding whether or not a service should close. For more information on service closures in an emergency, visit our website.
If you are unable to lodge a notification for any reason, call our Information and Enquiries team on 1800 619 113 or email ececd@det.nsw.edu.au for assistance.
Temporary waivers
Centre-based and Family Day Care services affected by the current emergency can apply for a temporary waiver. The NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority can grant temporary waivers for:
- physical environment, for example, indoor space or outdoor space requirements
- staffing, for example, ratios or educator qualifications.
Waivers related to emergencies are considered on a case-by-case basis and are fast-tracked.
The NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority will consider the period of time a waiver is granted so services don't have to reapply each day they cannot meet the requirements.
To apply for a waiver, follow the following steps:
- Submit an application in NQA ITS (SA08 Application of service or temporary waiver). Select the temporary waiver option.
- Select the regulation you are applying to waive.
- Pay the fee – fees for these applications will be waived or refunded if they are linked to a current emergency.
Services who are unable to NQA ITS (due to access to the internet or their devices) can call our Information and Enquiries team on 1800 619 113 to assist.
Refer to our Get Regulatory Support webpage for more information.
Communication with families
If your service or community has been or will be impacted, it is important to keep families informed about your service’s circumstances. The below templates can be used to support your communications, if required:
Safe travels
Service closure
Dear parents and carers
Due to potential impacts of severe weather, including a heightened risk of flooding, our ECEC service will be non-operational from [date] to [date].
We request you do not send your children during this time.
We are expected to resume operations on [date] unless we provide further updates.
Preparing for floods and storms [Optional]
The NSW SES has asked that families prepare their homes by putting away loose items around their home, trimming trees aways from properties and not parking vehicles under trees or powerlines.
Prepare an emergency kit with essential items including medications, documents, pet food and family photos.
Please stay safe around flooding and road closures. Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water, and any avoid unnecessary travel. Floodwater may be deeper or faster flowing than it appears and can contain hidden debris.
Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit the SES website.
Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you need emergency assistance in floods and storms. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Service reopening
Dear parents and carers
We are pleased to inform you that our service will recommence operations from [date].
From this date, you may send your children back to our service as per their enrolled days. [Optional] If your child requires a variation to their enrolled days, please contact us via [service phone number].
[Optional]
Please stay safe around flooding and road closures. Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water, and any avoid unnecessary travel. Floodwater may be deeper or faster flowing than it appears and can contain hidden debris.
Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au.
Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you need emergency assistance in floods and storms. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
We look forward to welcoming you and your children back into our service.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Social media post
Social media tiles:
Suggested captions:
- If closed: Due to local weather conditions, our service will be closed from [date] until [date]. For the safety of children and staff, please do not send your children to our service during this period. We expect to reopen on [date] unless we provide further updates.
- If open: Our service is open. Please take care travelling to our service and check Live Traffic NSW to plan a safe journey: https://www.livetraffic.com/
Handy links
- Emergency planning, management, response and recovery – find resources and templates for services.
- Flood planning for ECEC services (PDF 159 KB) – we have developed a resource to give further information about appropriate flood preparation and response.
- School operational status – find up to date information on schools that have temporarily ceased operations.
Mental health and wellbeing support
We have a range of resources available to support children, families and educators. You can access these on our Mental health and wellbeing resources page.
For more information
For advice and help, please contact us by calling 1800 619 113 or emailing ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.
- News