The Allan Labor Government is delivering High Intensity Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) at more specialist schools across the state free of charge — giving hundreds of families across Victoria the extra support they deserve.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll visited Croxton Special School this week to announce that High Intensity OSHC services are now available at five more specialist schools — delivering on the promise the Labor Government made to Victorians at the last election.
The schools include Banmira Specialist School (Shepparton), Bass Coast Specialist School (Wonthaggi), Croxton Special School (Northcote), Croydon Special Developmental School and Eastern Ranges School (Ferntree Gully).
High intensity OSHC was developed to support specialist school students’ families who say finding affordable outside school hours or holiday care that gives their kids the level of support they need is one of their biggest challenges.
The initiative began as a pilot at five specialist schools which resulted in significant improvements in educational achievements, improved wellbeing of students and their families, and 92 per cent of parents saying they had, or were planning to, take up extra work or training.
This year’s expansion of High Intensity OSHC will be followed by a further five schools set to incorporate these services in 2026, delivering on the Labor Government’s promise to build on the pilot program established in 2018.
The Government has invested $1.6 billion in Disability Inclusion initiatives across the state and support students with additional needs who attend mainstream schools.