Victorian kids will be kept busy making, baking and creating these school holidays, thanks to an array of online activities and events – accessible via the Victoria Together platform.

Today marks the first day kids and families take a break from remote and flexible learning during Term Three school holidays. But there’s still plenty on offer to keep our youngest Victorians active and engaged.

Aspiring young filmmakers can learn how to write their own scripts, build their own stop-motion animation and create a cracking contraption with Wallace and Gromit, thanks to the online offering at ACMI.

While a trip to the NGV will have to wait a little while longer, kids can tune in to virtual art classes, download activity sheets and take artistic inspiration from their very own home, backyard or balcony.

Arts Centre Melbourne will keep young Victorians singing, dancing and making music with “Move, Make, Create” – a series of online workshops – and a “Choose Your Own Variety” special hosted by Ali McGregor with special guests Frank Woodley, The Listies and Dane Simpson.

And following the booked-out end to its Term Three online disco, State Library Victoria will keep kids occupied with storytelling workshops and its virtual Storytime Sessions with some of Victoria’s best-loved authors.  

By staying home and staying safe these school holidays, we can all help make sure Victoria is that much closer to reaching COVID Normal – and make sure the next school holidays look a little more normal too.

Under the Victorian Government’s roadmap to reopening, all VCE and VCAL students will attend on-site during the first week of Term Four for essential assessments, including the General Achievement Test (GAT) on 7 October.

Regional and rural students enrolled in Prep to Grade 6 in standalone primary schools will return to on-site learning from Monday 5 October, with schools able to stagger the return of different year levels depending on local circumstances.

Regional primary students at P-12 schools will return from Thursday 8 October, with all remaining students returning from Monday 12 October.

In line with public health advice, Prep to Grade 2, VCE and VCAL students in Melbourne will also resume on-site learning from Monday 12 October, as will students in specialist schools. The return of other year levels in Melbourne will remain subject to the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

For a full program of free and low-cost online events, activities and attractions these school holidays, visit www.together.vic.gov.au/school-holidays-activities.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“I know firsthand, learning from home has its challenges – for kids and for parents. But because of that remarkable contribution, we’ve been able to drive down cases and slow the spread of this virus.”

“Although some normal school holiday activities are off the cards for a little while longer, there’s plenty to keep young minds active and engaged.”