SUPPORTING MORE FAMILIES WITH OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE

Allan Labor Government is providing more support for students and their families by expanding outside school hours’ care (OSHC) services across Victoria.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that funding would be provided to 115 small and regional schools, including five local schools, to support OSHC operations during 2026 – giving local families the extra support they deserve.

The $3.14 million initiative is intended to support schools with OSHC services at schools where there is some demand, but the service is not yet commercially viable without some additional funding support.

The following schools will receive funding for 2026 operational support for their OSHC and will need to re-apply next year for further funding to support their operations in 2027.
• Coimadai Primary School will receive $30,000
• Darraweit Guim Primary School will receive $30,000
• Newham Primary School will receive $25,000
• Taradale Primary School will receive $35,000
• Trentham District Primary School will receive $30,000

The services care for students after hours – helping their parents and carers get back into the workforce, study or training.

The grants are part of a $14.67 million Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grants Initiative from 2024 to 2028.

In 2024, 113 schools received funding for 2025 operations support under the Small and Regional Schools Grants program. A further funding round will take place in 2026.
Schools eligible for funding under the program were all previously part of the $81.7 million four-year Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grants Initiative, that ran from 2021 to 2024.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
“By supporting outside school hours care services in small and regional schools, we’re helping more parents and carers get back to work, study, or training.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
“These grants will provide a huge benefit to our schools and busy working families in Macedon.”