IDFM updates vacation care assessment process for OSHC services

The Inclusion Development Fund Manager will introduce changes to how vacation care cases are assessed in Outside School Hours Care settings from April 2026, with services encouraged to review updated guidance and contact their local Inclusion Agency for support.

The Inclusion Development Fund Manager (IDFM) will update its assessment process for vacation care cases in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) settings from April 2026.

The change forms part of ongoing adjustments to the Inclusion Support Program, which provides funding and support to help early childhood education and care services include children with additional needs.

Under the updated approach, the IDFM will apply revised assessment processes when reviewing vacation care requests submitted by OSHC services.

The Inclusion Support Program supports services to address barriers to participation and ensure children with additional needs can engage meaningfully in education and care environments.

Services that access support through the program are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the updated process ahead of the April implementation date.

OSHC services seeking clarification about the updated process can contact their local Inclusion Agency, which provides practical guidance and support to services participating in the Inclusion Support Program.

Inclusion Agencies work with services to identify barriers to inclusion and develop strategies that support children with diverse needs to participate in education and care.

Further information about Inclusion Agencies is available here.

 

Additional details about the revised assessment process are outlined in the vacation care factsheet published by the Inclusion Development Fund Manager.

The factsheet provides guidance for OSHC services preparing vacation care requests and outlines how the updated assessment process will operate.

The vacation care factsheet can be accessed here.

 

Services that rely on Inclusion Support Program funding for vacation care are encouraged to review the updated information to ensure requests align with the new assessment arrangements from April 2026.