Tips for vacation care
Throughout the school holidays, families may choose to access a Vacation Care Program for
their child. Vacation care may be sought due to work commitments, a desire to provide children
with varied activities, a desire to continue the routine of accessing a regular activity outside the
home and a chance for parents to have a break.
If you are planning on accessing a Vacation Care Program for your child, it is important to talk to
the service and book in advance as many programs fill quickly.
A range of vacation care options exist within Queensland, however, Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) or disability specific programs tend to be located in the Brisbane area. The Department of
Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), acknowledges that children with a
disability may require additional support and assistance during vacation care and provides
funding to allow for this to occur without placing burden on individual organisations.
Eligible childcare services including Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) facilities can apply for an
Inclusion Support Subsidy (ISS) to “improve their capacity to include children with ongoing high
support needs in quality childcare” (http://www.deewr.gov.au). Essentially, the ISS provides
funding to allow for an increase in adult support and represents a contribution towards the costs
associated with employing an additional childcare worker. Your child’s OSHC facility can apply
for the ISS through the local Inclusion Support Agency (ISA). An Inclusion Support Facilitator
will work with the OSHC to develop a Service Support Plan (SSP) and determine appropriate
levels of support.
The maximum funding available to eligible children is equivalent to 25 hours of care per week
for 42 weeks of the year during term time; support for eight hours per day for six days during
pupil free days; and 40 hours of care per week for 12 weeks of the year during vacation periods.
Funding levels will be determined by the national Inclusion Support Subsidy Provider.
When enrolling your child in vacation care, remember this is a new location and environment
and your child may need time to become familiar with the new routines, people and activities.
It is recommended you spend time with staff to tell them about your child and any specific
strategies that may help your child to feel happy and safe in the space. The Developing an
individual profile section of the transition booklet is a useful tool to quickly and easily
communicate important information about your child to people who will be caring for them.
Additional strategies for assisting your child to transition to a new environment, is available in
the Families: Preparing your child section and Transition timeline section of this web resource.
Further information regarding vacation care programs can be accessed from the links listed
below.
To
find
your
nearest
vacation
care
program
http://www.careforkids.com.au/search/regions.asp?stateID=3&ut=4&ctype=7.
visit
Some Queensland based vacation care suggestions:

Autism Queensland Holiday Program
Autism Queensland offers vacation care during most school holidays throughout the year at
their Sunnybank and/or Brighton Campuses.
Phone (07) 3273 0000 or visit http://www.autismqld.com.au/page/230/Holiday-Programs.

Camp Autism
Camp Autism provides holiday programs for families with a child with ASD in each state.
Phone 0407 696 377 or visit http://www.campautism.org/index.html.

FSG Australia Family Services
FSG Australia provides a range of respite, out of school hours and vacation care programs.
FSG works within the Brisbane and Greater Brisbane area.
Phone (07) 5564 0655 or visit http://www.fsg.org.au/whatwedo/disability/

Police-Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Vacation Care
PCYC Centres across Queensland offer vacation care services to all young children.
Contact your local branch: http://www.pcyc.org.au/programs/school-care/vacation-care.php.

Sony Camps
Sony Camps provides free holiday camps for children with a disability. Children are
supported 24 hours a day by a range of staff, including selected high school students.
Contact details and more information available at
http://www.sonyfoundation.org.au/charity2.php.

TAG5
Tag5 is a recreational support service that provides one-on-one support for camp and
sporting activities for children and young people with a variety of support needs. TAG5 is a
Brisbane based service.
Phone (07) 3411 3514 or visit www.tag5.com.au.

Uniting Care Community Vacation Care Program
The Uniting Care Program operates from 8:00am to 5:00pm from Beenleigh Special School,
Mt Gravatt West Special School and Mitchelton Special School.
Phone (07) 3801 6200 or visit http://www.uccommunity.org.au/vacation-care.

YMCA
The YMCA provides vacation care from a number of locations within Brisbane and the Gold
Coast, including a camp for primary school aged children.
Phone (07) 3354 0444 or visit http://www.brisbaneymca.org/Child-Care/vacation-care/.
Useful information regarding local vacation care options may also be found via local family
support groups and disability organisations.