The Allan Labor Government is providing more support for students and their families by expanding outside school hours’ care (OSHC) services across Victoria.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced that funding would be provided to 115 small and regional schools to support OSHC operations during 2026 – giving local families the extra support they deserve.
The $3.14 million in funding 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 services care for students after hours – helping their parents and carers get back into the workforce, study or training.
Schools will receive up to $30,000 for 2026 operational support for their OSHC and will need to re-apply next year for further funding to support their operations in 2027.
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.