The OSHC Program

YMCA OSHC services plan, design and provide tailored programs catering to the children’s age, skill, interests and abilities through a variety of challenging and recreational activities.  In developing programs, YMCA OSHC services recognise the importance of an understanding of middle childhood and play in the development of children.

Our aim is to provide activities that develop each child’s social, emotional, lingual, physical, intellectual, social, creative and recreational potential and that are developmentally appropriate. The development of life skills is an important part of our program, with a strong focus on child-initiated and child-choice experiences.

In accordance with OSHC Quality Assurance, observations are taken of the children to aid in the programming evaluation cycle. These observations are not intended to act as anything other than a programming tool and are stored in the family file at the service where they can be viewed by parents/guardians if requested.

In addition to recreational activities time and resources are made available for children wishing to complete their homework while at Before or After School Care.

Service Coordinators will happily discuss any aspect of the program with interested families.  Before and After School Care Programs are displayed at the service on a weekly basis.  Vacation Care Programs are prepared in advance for the entire period and distributed on the Family Information Table of all YMCA OSHC services.

Current and archived Vacation Care programs are available from our Download section.

During Vacation Care the children have the opportunity to experience aspects of the wider community by participating in excursions.  Each YMCA OSHC service plans and prepares individual excursions to ensure a wide variety of outings.  An excursions could involve a trip to the movies with lunch at Sizzler, a citycat ride along the Brisbane River with afternoon  tea in a park or a bus ride to explore Australia Zoo. 

YMCA OSHC services participate in the Active After School Communities initiative administered by the Australian Sports Commission.  This project involves providers of physical, healthy activities visiting the service and sharing their skills with the children.  Common activities include Yoga, Oztag, Cricket and Indoor Bowling.

New activity ideas and suggestions are always welcome, as are people willing to share a special skill or talent.  If family members are able to volunteer their time, the children are always most willing to learn.