Dear families,

Our very successful OSHC has reached a pivotal point and I am seeking your help to keep the much needed service to families operating.

Let me explain; our Out of School Hours Care program has been impacted severely by a number of factors both directly and indirectly related to our pandemic.

OSHC programs require a specific level of staffing in order to meet the legal requirements to remain functioning. This level of staffing that we are critically short of includes suitably ‘qualified’ staff. Put simply, our ‘qualified’ staff are mostly initial education students who are training to be teachers. As they move through their course, they have periods of working in schools and eventually move out of OSHC and into teaching. Usually as they migrate out of OSHC, we have others who become workers at OSHC.

This however has not happened since the Pandemic started, and now we are short of the required ‘qualified’ staff to roster on to all sessions at OSHC.

In order to be eligible to be a ‘qualified’ staff in OSHC, workers are required to have either:

  • one of the qualifications listed in the attached spreadsheet, which include a variety of certificates, diplomas and degrees or
  • A minimum of two years successful completion of a university course in the field of education.

Plus:

  • First Aid Qualification (can be attained after commencing)
  • Current Responding to Abuse and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)
  • Current Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Apart from working towards or having a degree level qualification, all of the other requirements are very easily met, and we can offer reimbursement of any out-of-pocket costs. RRHAN-EC and WWCC access can be discussed with the school if applying to be an OSHC staff member.

We require there to be two ‘qualified’ staff employed during each session, for both mornings and afternoons during Monday to Friday.

If we are unable to source adequate ‘qualified’ staff for each session, then legally we cannot operate our OSHC program. We are not the only OSHC having this difficulty, but I know how much many of our families rely on the OSHC service during term time, and I am keen not to reduce or even have to close our service to families. (Please note that Vacation Care is separate and not effected by our current situation).

Hence, if you can meet the criteria to be a ‘qualified’ member of OSHC staff, have some time to spare, and would like to get paid for helping out, then we would love to hear from you. We can offer flexibility in working hours and if you have children attending OSHC while you are working in our service, we will remove fees for those sessions. Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested.

If you are able to help, please contact Angela Burrows (Business Manager) via email Angela.Burrows170@schools.sa.edu.au or on mobile: 0400 027 127.

Thanking you in appreciation,

Kind Regards,
Steve

Steve Freeman
Principal

Download