SA to offer customised OSHC qualification

South Australia will soon offer the Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), a first for the state, in a bid to enhance the skills of those working in the OSHC sector. 

Scheduled to commence from Semester 1, 2024, the course will span 18 months and will be delivered through a blend of online and face-to-face workshops. This flexible approach is tailored to accommodate those already employed in the industry, allowing them to participate in the training without disrupting their current professional commitments.

“We want every South Australian family to have access to high quality out of school care, and this new course will mean we have more carers equipped to support children’s wellbeing and development outside of school hours,” SA Education Minister Blair Boyer said. 

The course has been developed in response to the recent Royal Commission, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which highlighted the need for specialist training in the OSHC space, and will be offered as part of SA’s Fee Free TAFE initiative. 

The Commission’s Final Report underscored the OSHC sector’s challenges in attracting and retaining staff with the necessary qualifications. It recommended urgent changes to qualification requirements, including the recognition of an OSHC-specific qualification, to address these workforce challenges.

TAFE SA Chief Executive David Coltman highlighted the collaborative effort in making this course available, describing the course as, “a great example of the way we work with industry to ensure the training we are delivering is relevant and addresses in-demand skills.” 

For more information on the course and application process please see here.