School council-managed OSHC services are eligible for a pay rise through the Worker Retention Payment Grant

Fiona Alston

Aug 06, 2025

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Victorian school council-managed outside school hours care (OSHC) services may now be eligible to access additional funding through the Worker Retention Payment Grant, helping to reward and retain their dedicated educators.

Staff working in OSHC services managed by school councils in Victorian government schools can benefit from the Worker Retention Payment, designed to recognise the critical contribution of educators to children’s wellbeing and learning.

To access the grant, services must:

be approved for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS),
meet fee growth cap requirements, and
use an eligible workplace instrument.

Full eligibility criteria are available on the Department of Education’s workforce wages webpage.

The Australian Government has provided funding to the National Outside School Hours Services Alliance (NOSHSA) under the Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Payment Engagement Program. This funding enables NOSHSA to offer free support to providers seeking to apply.

NOSHSA’s assistance includes:

online and face-to-face information sessions
phone support via 1300 781 749
help understanding and implementing workplace instruments,
support with grant applications,
workplace relations, legal and accounting advice, and
guidance to monitor and comply with Worker Retention Payment requirements.

By engaging with NOSHSA, services can access tailored support to navigate the application process and ensure compliance with grant conditions. For more information, phone 1300 781 749 or visit the NOSHSA website to get started.

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