Victorian grandparents have been told not to be nominated care givers to their grandchildren under a new ruling.

COVID commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed Victoria's stay-at-home directions were refreshed overnight on August 21st (when no one was watching) to clarify rules around child-minding.

The order now states children can only be minded by a non-parent or guardian if the child is vulnerable and needs at-home care, if their carer is an authorised worker, or cannot take the child with them to get essential goods or attend a health appointment.

Jeroen said, "If your grandmother looks after your kid every Tuesday and that's a normal thing, you may regard that as part of your normal household activity and that's OK. But at this point in time, it's not. That really sucks but we're doing everything we can to reduce contact now because those cases we are talking about continue to be fuelled by those small little exchanges."

We recognise that some may be abusing the current care giving option but there are many who are not. You may still be working from home and not an essential worker and now cannot access caring support if needed. You may be a single parent who gets sick (non covid illness) and cannot access care giving support from grandparents under this new ruling. Examples can go on. Even though you’re not an essential worker you still need care giving for your children from time to time for very valid reasons.

It was suggested that childcare as an alternative as they enforce covid safe policies but isn’t possible as childcare centres are closed and only accessible by essential workers. 

This ruling is unjust, unrealistic and above all lacks evidence that grandparents the ones spreading the virus. Where is the research and statistics by independent parties that proves this is the case? 

Every day Australian families are suffering enough as it is but then to cut off their family support and the say “put your kids in child care” which many cannot afford is unrealistic. Not to mention the strain on the child and family having to adjust to a dramatic change. 

We call for the state government to over turn this ridiculous ruling immediately. Enough is enough.