Navigating Outside School Hours care: a comprehensive guide for parents
Most working parents know the struggle of trying to balance busy work schedules while ensuring their child is taken care of before and after school. That’s where outside school hours care or OSHC can come in handy. Whether you’re in need of a helping hand before school, after school or during the holidays, including pupil-free days, OSHC could provide the care you need so you can focus on your work.
Here’s what you need to know about OSHC.
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What is outside school hours care (OSHC)?
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) providers offer supervised care and recreation for primary school-age children outside of regular school hours. This typically includes:
- Before school care. Usually from around 6.30 or 7am until the school bell, often with breakfast included.
- After school care. From the end of the school day until around 6pm, usually with afternoon tea.
- Pupil-free days. Full-day care when the school is closed for staff training.
- Vacation care. Full-day programs during the school holidays, often with excursions and incursions.
OSHC services provide a safe, fun and engaging environment where kids can participate in activities like arts and crafts, sports, homework support and social play. These programs are often run by schools, community organisations or private providers. In some cases, they’re even eligible for government assistance, like the Childcare Subsidy (CCS), to help with costs.
What are the benefits of OSHC for children?
OSHC gives children time to play and socialise in a relaxed setting after the structure of the classroom. Good services balance active outdoor play with quieter options like craft and reading, and let kids choose how they spend their time.
For many children, the social side is the biggest drawcard. Shannon Gall, Pedagogy and Practice Manager at Lady Gowrie Tasmania, points out that kids don't have the same casual after-school time with each other that earlier generations did. "Gone are the days of the neighbourhood kids all meeting together in the street after school," she told the ABC. "We're all a bit more isolated, so it really is a lovely chance for them."
Here are some of the ways your child can benefit.
- Friendships across year levels. Kids mix with children from other classes and grades, which can make the playground feel a lot friendlier.
- Active play. Outdoor games and sport help kids burn off energy after a day sitting at a desk.
- Independence. Choosing their own activities and keeping track of their belongings builds confidence.
- Homework time. Many services set aside a quiet space for reading and homework, which can make evenings at home calmer.
- Holiday adventures. Vacation care programs often include excursions and themed days your child might not otherwise get to do.
How does OSHC help working parents?
OSHC gives working parents reliable, regulated care at the edges of the school day, so you can start work earlier or finish later without relying on favours. Because many services run on the school grounds, educators often collect younger children from their classrooms, which takes the pressure off the school run.
Vacation care and pupil-free day sessions are a big help too. They cover the days you'd otherwise need to take leave or call in the grandparents, and most approved services attract the Child Care Subsidy, which brings the daily cost down.
How much does OSHC cost?
OSHC fees are set by each provider, so they vary depending on where you live and what's included in each session. In its 2023 childcare inquiry, the ACCC found the national average OSHC fee was $31.62 per session per child in the September quarter of 2023. Vacation care is usually charged as a full-day rate and can cost more on excursion days.
When you're comparing services, check whether fees include breakfast and afternoon tea, and whether there's an annual enrolment or booking fee. Our breakdown of what OOSH costs has more on the extras to look out for.
The good news is that approved OSHC is covered by the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Eligible families can claim CCS for children under 14 who aren't yet in secondary school, for before school, after school and vacation care sessions. From 6 July 2026, the hourly rate cap for school-aged children in OSHC is $13.30, and under the 3 Day Guarantee most families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care a fortnight. You can estimate your out-of-pocket costs with our Child Care Subsidy calculator.
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How do you choose the right OSHC service for your child?
The right OSHC service is one your child can get to safely, with a varied program run by staff who know the children well. A visit before you enrol is the best way to get a feel for it.
Researchers say the gap between services can be wide. Professor Carol Maher, lead researcher on an Adelaide University study into activity levels in OSHC, said "Our previous research showed enormous variation between services in how active children were", with children spending around 60% of their time in after-school care inactive. That makes it worth asking how the program is planned and how much time kids spend outdoors.
Location matters as well. Max Hall, of the University of Sydney's Sydney Policy Lab, describes on-site care as the ideal, because "A child experiences their entire school day, whether they're in the classroom or in the playground, seamlessly."
When it comes to choosing the right OSHC service for you and your family, it’s important to take a few different factors into account, including:
- Location: How will my child travel between school and the OSHC service?
- Cost: What are the fees and what do they cover?
- Staff qualifications: What are the qualifications of the staff? What National Quality Standard (NQS) rating does the provider have?
- Availability: Are there positions available? How far ahead do I need to book?
- The program. What does a typical afternoon look like, how much is outdoor play and can kids choose their own activities?
What can you do if your school's OSHC is full?
If your school's OSHC service is full, put your name on the waitlist as early as you can and look at other approved and informal care options in the meantime. Places are limited in many areas, so it pays to book well before your child's first term of school.
Some families use family day care, where an educator can care for a small number of school-aged children before and after school and may do school drop-offs and pick-ups. Others split the cost of a nanny with another family through nanny sharing, or lean on grandparents for a few afternoons a week. We cover more of these in our guide to alternative after school care.
Where can you find OSHC near you?
You can search for before school, after school and vacation care services near you on Care for Kids. Enter your suburb or postcode in our after school care search to compare fees and NQS ratings, check vacancies and read reviews from other parents.
Finding the right OSHC can take a little legwork, but once your child is settled in somewhere they enjoy, the school day gets a lot easier for the whole family.
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FAQs
What age can children go to outside school hours care in Australia?
Outside school hours care in Australia is mainly for primary school-aged children, from their first year of school through to around year 6. Families can generally claim the Child Care Subsidy for OSHC for children under 14 who aren't yet in secondary school.
Is vacation care covered by the Child Care Subsidy?
Vacation care is covered by the Child Care Subsidy when it's run by an approved OSHC service. Excursion costs and other extras may be charged separately, so check what the daily fee includes. There's more detail in our article on whether vacation care is covered by the Child Care Subsidy.
Can you book casual before and after school care sessions?
Casual before and after school care sessions are offered by many OSHC services when places are available. Registering with the service in advance means you can book a casual session quickly when a late meeting or appointment comes up.
Can my child attend an OSHC service at a different school?
Some OSHC services accept children from nearby schools, especially if they offer a walking or bus transfer. Ask the service which schools they collect from and how children are supervised on the way.
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