The Andrews Labor Government is helping more schools across Victoria establish outside school hours care services – to ensure children are cared for while their parents and carers get back into the workforce, study or training.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced 121 schools will share in $17 million in grants to establish new or expanded outside school hours care services.
The schools will receive up to $75,000 each year over the next two years for their outside school hours care service, with special schools and those in remote locations to receive more funding if required.
The funding will help establish new services or expand existing ones to help them meet demand, as well as provide support for costs including resources or equipment, setup and administration, staffing, training and transport.
The grants come as part of a $81.7 million Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grants Initiative. A further funding round will take place next year, bringing the total number of schools to benefit from the initiative to more than 400.
Since 2015, the Labor Government has invested more than $22.2 billion in its Education State reforms, giving every Victorian child the chance to succeed.
This includes $738 million for tutors across Victorian schools and more than $600 million into mental health programs in schools.
Every single government secondary and specialist school across the state has a mental health practitioner – a year ahead of schedule – and mental health and wellbeing leaders are being rolled out in every primary school to support kids.
As stated by Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
“By creating more outside school hours care services, we’re helping parents and carers to get back to work, study, or training – while ensuring their kids are cared for before and after school hours, as well as during school holidays.”
“These grants will provide a huge benefit to our schools and busy working families across the state.”
