* Free child care starting next week, as the nation grapples with the coronavirus

* Parents still working will be prioritised as well as children who are vulnerable and need to be cared for

* The government will pay half the reasonable fee cap for the next six months - approximately $59.90 a day for children in long day care centres and $55.50 for family day care

* The funding will be based on the number of children in care during the fortnight before March 2

* To receive the money, centres must stay open and not charge parents any fees

* They must continue and prioritise care for children of essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and previously enrolled children

* The amount will be paid fortnightly

* Centres will be switched on to the new system automatically

* It amounts to about $1.6 billion over three months

* The plan aims to keep childcare centres open

* It completely reshapes the childcare fee scheme, with means and activity testing dropped

* Most centres can also access the JobKeeper wage subsidies, with about $1 billion expected to go to the sector

* Centres can choose to refund gap fees charged to families between March 23 and April 5 - this is a business decision for each centre

STATE OF THE SYSTEM

* 1.3 million children in child care

* 945,000 families

* 13,000 centres across the country

* 200,000 early childhood education workers

* Each child uses 24.7 hours a week on average.

Australian Associated Press