OSHC – Before & After School Care
Wattle Creek OSHC runs before school care (6:45–8:30am) and after school care (3:15–6:15pm) on campus in the Hall Annexe. Fees, Child Care Subsidy, bookings, cancellations and the daily routine.
Wattle Creek OSHC provides Before and After School Care for St Mary's College families every school day, on campus in the Hall Annexe (own entrance off the Junior courtyard). The service is for students in Prep to Year 6; Year 7 and 8 students may attend by arrangement with the Coordinator. Our educators are all First Aid and anaphylaxis trained, work to a 1:15 educator-to-child ratio, and plan the program around the national My Time, Our Place framework – which in practice means plenty of outdoor play, craft, cooking, construction and quiet corners, plus a healthy breakfast or afternoon tea.
Sessions and fees
| Session | Days | Hours | Fee (before CCS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before School Care | Monday–Friday in term | 6:45am–8:30am | $22 per session |
| After School Care | Monday–Friday in term | 3:15pm–6:15pm | $34 per session |
| Holiday Program | School holidays (see Holiday Program) | 7:00am–6:00pm | $78 per day |
Fees are charged to your OSHC account fortnightly and shown net of any Child Care Subsidy. Late pickup after 6:15pm is charged at $2 per minute.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Most families are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, which can reduce the fee significantly. To have it applied:
- Register for CCS through myGov / Centrelink and complete the activity test.
- Enter your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and date of birth, and your child's CRN and date of birth, on the OSHC enrolment form.
- Once we submit the enrolment, log back into myGov and confirm the enrolment with Wattle Creek OSHC. Subsidy will not flow until this step is done.
- Check your first statement – if the full fee is still showing, email oshc@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Enrolling and booking
- Enrolment form: every child needs a current OSHC enrolment form each calendar year (medical details, action plans, authorised collectors). Complete it in the OSHC Hub app or via the Parent Portal > OSHC before your first booking.
- Permanent bookings: the same days each week for the term. Set these up in the app or email the Coordinator. Permanent places are guaranteed and can be changed with 48 hours' notice.
- Casual bookings: available subject to places. Book by 12:00pm on the day for After School Care, or the day before for Before School Care.
- Cancellations: 48 hours' notice, or the full session fee is charged (CCS does not apply to absences beyond your allowable absence days).
- Uncollected students: if a Junior student has not been collected from Kiss-and-Drop by 3:45pm, they are taken to the Junior Office and then signed in to casual After School Care, which is charged.
Before School Care – daily routine
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:45am | Doors open; sign in on the tablet with your PIN |
| 6:45–7:45am | Breakfast served: toast, cereal, fruit, milk (nut-free) |
| 7:00–8:15am | Free play, board games, LEGO, drawing; outdoor play from 7:30am weather permitting |
| 8:15am | Pack up; sunscreen and hats in Terms 1 and 4 |
| 8:30am | Educators walk Prep–Year 2 students to their classrooms; Years 3–6 walk to the yard for supervision |
After School Care – daily routine
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3:20pm | Junior teachers walk Prep–Year 2 students to the Annexe; Years 3–6 walk themselves and sign in with an educator |
| 3:30pm | Afternoon tea: fruit, sandwiches or wraps, veggie sticks and dip, homemade baking (nut-free; halal and gluten-free options on request) |
| 4:00–4:30pm | Optional quiet homework time with an educator |
| 4:00–5:45pm | Planned activities – cooking club, sport on the Junior oval, art, construction, gardening |
| 5:45pm | Pack up and quiet play until collection |
| 6:15pm | Service closes – late fee applies from 6:16pm |
Parents sign children out on the tablet at the Annexe door; only people listed as authorised collectors on the enrolment form may collect, and photo ID may be requested.
Good to know
- Children may bring a named water bottle; there is no need to pack breakfast or afternoon tea.
- All medical action plans and medication must be lodged with OSHC separately from the College office.
- Sport uniform and casual clothes are fine on the appropriate days; OSHC follows the College's SunSmart rules.
- OSHC uses the Hall Annexe, the Junior playground and the Junior oval, so on evenings when the Hall is in use (concerts, P&F events) collection is still via the Annexe door.
- For the September holidays, see the Spring Holiday Program – bookings open Monday 31 August 2026.
Contact
Mr Ben Hartley, OSHC Coordinator – oshc@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au or 0428 555 022 (during session hours). For account or CCS queries, email is best; for same-day changes, call or text.