Announcement on Victoria childcare measures expected tomorrow

An announcement on what measures will be put in place support Victorian families and the childcare sector during the state's stage four lockdowns will be made tomorrow, Education Minister Dan Tehan says.

Mr Tehan said he had been in close consultations with key players in the childcare industry today and hoped to be in a position to provide more certainty about the situation tomorrow.

READ MORE: What's happening with childcare under stage four lockdown

For the first time, early learning and childcare services will only be open to children whose parents or carers are essential workers, as well as for vulnerable children under Melbourne's stage four restrictions.

READ MORE: The Victorian industries facing large-scale shutdown under Stage 4 restrictions

Mr Tehan said 99 percent of childcare sector had remain open and viable during COVID-19.

"We now want to ensure that we can put measures in place which will see the childcare sector in Melbourne be able to deal with the coming six weeks of stage four restrictions and then whatever other restrictions are necessary beyond that."

Earlier today, Premier Daniel Andrews said a degree of understanding may be needed from employers in order for parents to be able to care for their children at home.

"I would also respectfully ask employers to be fully aware that these childcare arrangements, which sometimes can be central to a person working from home, the working-from-home arrangements may need to change," Mr Andrews said.

Confusion has been cast over the intricacies of childcare arrangements, including whether babysitters or occasional carers were permitted under the restrictions.

Mr Andrews said it was "not settled yet" as to whether families would have to continue paying for childcare services