COVER UP ORDER AT GOODSTART

ONE of the country’s biggest childcare providers has ordered all its educators to wear masks.

Goodstart Early Learning, which has more than 600 centres across Australia, this week slapped the mask mandate on its Victorian and Tasmanian staff.

Spokesman John Cherry said Goodstart would “review the mask-wearing mandate as soon as we believe it is safe to do so”.

He added: “While none of us will be excited about the return to mask wearing, they are an important part of keeping our children, teams and our families as safe as possible.”

It comes as some other childcare centres are also asking parents to wear masks to drop off and pick up children.

One mother of a 20-month-old and a four-week-old said she was very frustrated. “My 20-month-old is so reliant on seeing faces and being supported, not just physically but verbally,” she said.

A government spokesman said there was no requirement for staff or children to wear masks in early childhood settings, although they were “strongly recommended”.

Schools such as Methodist Ladies’ College in Victoria, experiencing a Covid outbreak following the year 11 formal, are taking a hard line on masks.

MLC parents were told all students aged eight and over and visitors to the campus “will wear masks”. MLC facilities are used by many children’s sporting groups and clubs.

Gymnastics Victoria said it “relies on guidance from the state government and supports public health directives”.

Several community clubs in Victoria have also followed that state government’s recommendation that masks are “strongly recommended” for students eight and over.