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
Out of hours school care and school holiday programs
Out of hours school care
If you have primary school aged children, out of hours school care (OOSH) and vacation care can provide care including:
- before and after school
- on pupil-free days
- during school holidays (vacation care).
Typical hours for OOSH services are:
- before school commences, from 6.30am to 9.00am
- after school, from 3.00pm to 6.00pm
- during school holidays, from 7.00am to 6.00pm each week day.
Costs of OOSH care vary, but typical fees range from $20 to $40 per session for before and after school care, and starting from $60 for vacation care programs.
You can find more information about OOSH and Vacation Care on the care for kids website.
You might be eligible for child care subsidy to reduce the costs if you are using approved centre and your family is eligible for this support.
There are a number of activities available for children during school holidays, both on campus and at nearby locations. For more information about vacation care programs outside the University, contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 or visit the Australian Child Care Index provided by eChildcare.
School holiday programs
Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness
Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness run sports camps for children aged six to 16 years during school holidays (coinciding with semester breaks). The camps are designed to encourage all children to participate in a variety of sports. This includes AFL, hockey, netball, basketball, tennis, cricket, soccer, swimming and water polo.
For information on fees and availability, contact:
Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness office
Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre
Cnr Darlington Road & Codrington Street
University of Sydney NSW 2006
1300 068 922 or +61 2 9351 4960
For further information visit the Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness website.
NSW Sport and Recreation
The NSW Government Office of Sport: Sport and Recreation is a state government office that assists people to participate in sports and recreation. A ‘holiday ideas’ section on the department’s website lists kids holiday camps, ideas for family getaways as well as day activities for kids and teenagers.
For more information, visit the NSW Office of Sport website.
Local school vacation programs
Vacation care programs are offered at many schools, by providers such as Camp Australia, Extend, YMCA or local councils. Contact your local school directly for information and availability.
YMCA school holiday camps/vacation care programs
The YMCA is a not for profit organisation that provides services to all ages, genders, races and religions. The YMCA holds holiday camps and vacation activities at different YMCA centres over Sydney.
Visit the YMCA website for information on specific holiday camps and vacation activities.
NSW Family and Community Services
The NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) website has a School Holiday Parent Kit, where you can find information on tackling holiday stress, child safety and activities to keep children active and entertained during the school holidays.
Visit the FACS website for details and to view the School Holiday Parent Kit.
University of Sydney museums
The Chau Chak Wing Museum, regularly hold children's activities during the school holidays. For details, visit the Chau Chak Wing Museum website.
Last updated: 23 August 2024
