Related links
Child care
- Child Care Information
- Childcare centres
- Occasional care
- Family day care
- Out of hours school care and school holiday programs
- Facilities for parents
- Parent networks and other resources
Parent networks and other resources
As a parent, there are activities and services you can use in your local area.
Networks for parents
Student Parents and Carers Network
The USYD Student Parents Network can help you to develop friendships with other students with children. The group’s aim is to connect you with other parents studying at the University and share experiences, helping each other and meet new friends.
Join their Facebook group to share tips, experiences and learn about events for you and your family.
Staff Parents and Carers Network
The Parents and Carers Network aims to support staff with parental and caring responsibilities. Many staff have parenting or caring roles such as birth parent, step parent, grandparent, or through adoption or fostering. Some currently care for an adult, or may be planning for this possibility in the future.
The network provides support including face to face and online events relevant to parents and carers. The network also provides a support group who can offer each other informal peer support, beyond the regular meetings and events.
Join the Parents and Carers Network mailing list to be notified of future events. For more information, email Diversity and Inclusion.
Playgroups
Playgroups are small informal groups of children and their parents/carers who meet in the local community, often in a community hall. They are aimed at children aged between one and five years and provide opportunities for children to play and interact with other children, and for parents to meet other parents. There are also playgroups aimed at specific cultural groups.
Visit the Playgroup NSW website to find out more about playgroups and locate those in your local area.
Public libraries
Most public libraries across Sydney run free programs for children under five on weekdays during school term. Many offer Rhyme Time (aimed at 0-2 years) and Story Time (aimed at 3-5 years) sessions in a friendly environment. Many libraries also offer workshops for older children during school holidays.
Useful contacts
If you’re considering your child care options, the following links provide more information on things such as tax considerations, the Child Care Benefit and how to find childcare services in your area.
StartingBlocks.gov.au
This website is an initiative of the Australian Government. It provides information for families, focusing on early childhood learning and child care. There is a link to help you find child care in your area.
Casual Employment Services
You can advertise for a babysitter or nanny on the database provided here. This can be accessed by enrolled students of the University who are seeking casual or part-time work. The Casual Employment Service does not screen applicants, so it is your responsibility to ask for references and sight the applicant's student ID card.
KU Children’s Services
KU Children’s Services manage three childcare centres near our Camperdown/Darlington Campus: Union Child Care Centre, Laurel Tree House and Carillon Child Care Centre. KU Children’s Services is a non-profit child care provider.
SDN Children’s Services
SDN Children’s Services manage Ngallia Early Learning Centre. SDN is a non-profit organisation and childcare provider.
National Child Care Accreditation Council
The Australian Government has set up a quality assurance system covering all long day care, family day care and out of school hours care. All childcare providers, including those on or near the University of Sydney campuses, are required to go through an accreditation process to ensure they meet specific standards of care.
Australian Government Department of Human Services
The Family Assistance Office provides information about the Parenting Payment; Family Tax Benefit; Child Care Subsidy; Jobs and Education and Training Child Care Fee Assistance.
Local Council Directory
Most local councils have information about the childcare facilities in their area on their websites.
Raising Children Network
An Australian parenting website, which contains comprehensive, practical, expert child health and parenting information and activities covering children from birth to eight years of age.
Last updated: 14 August 2023
