National
Occasional Care
Programme
Guidelines
2015-2016
Published by the
Communications Division
for Early Years and Primary Reform Division
Department of Education and
Training
Melbourne
November 2015
©State of Victoria (Department of Education
and Training
The copyright in this document is owned by the State of
Victoria (Department of Education and Training), or in
the case of some materials, by third parties (third party
materials). No part may be reproduced by any process
except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright
Act 1968, the National Education Access Licence for
Schools (NEALS) (see below) or with permission.
An educational institution situated in Australia which is not
conducted for profit, or a body responsible for administering
such an institution may copy and communicate the
materials, other than third party materials, for the
educational purposes of the institution.
Authorised by the Department of Education
and Training.
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002.
This document is also available on the internet at
www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/funding/Page
s/natoccasionalcare.aspx
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
1
Contents
1.
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2
2.
Service provision requirements.......................................................................... 4
3.
Regulatory requirements..................................................................................... 6
4.
Guiding Principles ............................................................................................... 8
5.
Roles and responsibilities of funded providers .............................................. 10
6.
Eligibility requirements ..................................................................................... 13
7.
Application procedure ....................................................................................... 14
8.
Appendix ............................................................................................................ 15
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
2
1. Introduction
The Victorian Government is committed to supporting all children and families to access
high-quality early childhood education and care.
The Department of Education and Training (the Department) supports and provides a range
of learning and development opportunities for Victorian children, young people and adults.
Occasional child care plays an important role in providing care for children when parents or
guardians have other commitments, or simply need a break. These guidelines explain the
policies, procedures and funding criteria for the National Occasional Child Care Programme
for Victorian early childhood education and care providers.
The continuation of the Programme is dependent upon Commonwealth funding. Service
providers must take this into account when applying for funding.
The National Occasional Care Programme Objectives
The National Occasional Care Programme supports the provision of affordable and
accessible occasional care. It aims to:

increase access to flexible and seasonal child care, particularly for families in rural and
regional areas

enable parents to participate in a range of day to day activities (for example casual or
seasonal work, recreational classes, respite or medical appointments)

provide high-quality, safe and inclusive early childhood education and care that allows
socialisation and learning opportunities for children

increase accessibility to current early childhood education and care services,
particularly sessional kindergarten programs in rural and regional areas.
National Occasional Care Programme funding
Funding for the National Occasion Care Programme is provided on the basis of effective
full-time (EFT) places. More than one child can occupy one funded EFT place and it is
expected that several children will occupy one place in any given week.
Services may apply for up to $15,000 per annum (based on 2015 funding rates), based on
the proposed number of places to be offered and operating times. This funding is a
contribution towards the service’s operating costs, such as salaries, on-costs and
consumable items.
The funding rates for the National Occasional Care Programme are outlined in Table 1
below.
National Occasional Care funding rates
Year
Funding per child per
hour
2015
$2.50
2016
$2.55
2017
$2.60
2018
$2.65
In addition to annual funding approved services may be eligible for an establishment grant
to assist with the implementation of the National Occasional Care Programme.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
3
2. Service provision requirements
Service access
National Occasional Care Programme service providers are encouraged to make places
accessible to families by:

developing links with other service providers and families, such as local government, so
that information about the occasional care service is widely available in the community

developing priority of access policies to ensure there is fair distribution of hours of care
to families seeking access to the service. It is recommended services reflect the
Commonwealth guidelines on priority for allocating places in approved child care
services.

establishing booking systems so that some places are available for families who wish to
use the service for the first time or may be seeking to make a booking at short notice

conducting an annual survey of existing users to determine if the child care provided is
meeting the needs of local families.
Hours
Services funded under the National Occasional Care Programme must operate for a
minimum of 40 weeks per year. Services can operate for a maximum of nine hours per day
and up to 45 hours per week. Each child may access a funded place for up to five hours per
day and 15 hours per week.
Sessions should be provided at times that best meet community needs. Preferred session
times can be determined by conducting a formal survey of families and/or working with
other organisations, such as local government, to identify the need for occasional care
services in the community.
Service providers should consider other nearby early childhood services when planning the
most appropriate session times and fee structures to ensure that the National Occasional
Care Programme does not replace other early childhood education programs, such as
funded kindergarten. Children eligible for kindergarten in the year before school and not
enrolled in a funded kindergarten program are not eligible to occupy a National Occasional
Care funded place. Service providers must also ensure they are not operating in direct
competition with other local early childhood education and care services including three
year old kindergarten programs and long day care.
Existing kindergarten providers are encouraged to consider providing ‘wrap-around' care
that supports kindergarten access, for example by aligning National Occasional Care
Programme times with school start and finish times.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
4
Parent Fees
National Occasional Care funded services are required to have a comprehensive written
fee policy in place and to communicate this to families. Fees should be set at a level that
balances parents’ capacity to pay with the need to provide a high-quality service, with
consideration also given to the potential impact on other local early childhood education
and care services.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
5
3. Regulatory requirements
The most appropriate licence type or service approval for National Occasional Care
services will vary depending on the service model and/or other early childhood services
offered by the service provider at the same premises.
National Occasional Care Programme services can operate as either:
1. A service operating under the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 and the
Education Services National Regulations 2011
a. An approved education and are service (National Quality Framework)
b. An approved associated children’s service
2. A service operating under the Victorian Children’s Services legislation
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and the
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National
Quality Framework)
Services approved under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National
Law) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National
Regulations) operate under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
Service providers operating an existing kindergarten service and providing wrap-around
occasional care may operate both services under National Law and National Regulations.
Services operating under the NQF must consider the required minimum child to educator
ratios and educator qualifications. These services are required to have access to a qualified
early childhood teacher working with the service or have an early childhood teacher in
attendance at the service. Services not able to meet this requirement may apply for a
waiver.
For more information regarding waivers contact the Department on 1300 307 415 or
[email protected] or see: Regulation and Quality
Assessment
Further more information regarding the National Quality Framework, see:
National Quality Framework
Approved Associated Children’s Service
The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National Law) and the Education
and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations) allow that where a
service provider (licensee) is operating a service under the NQF and a service under the
Victorian Children’s Services Act 1996 (Victorian Act) and Children’s Services Regulations
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
6
2009 (Victorian Regulations) at one location, the service subject to the Victorian children’s
services legislation may become an approved associated children’s service.
Service providers operating an existing early childhood service under the NQF and also
providing an occasional care service from the same premises may operate the occasional
care service as an approved associated children’s service. This allows both services to
operate under one licence. Under this licence the occasional care service must comply with
the requirements of the Victorian children’s services legislation while the existing service
continues to operate under the NQF.
Further information regarding approved associated children’s services, see: National
Quality Framework
Victorian Children's Services Legislation – Limited hours licence type 2
These services operate under the Victorian Children’s Services Act 1996 (Victorian Act)
and the Children’s Services Regulations 2009 (Victorian Regulations).
A Limited hours licence type 2 (LH2) is the most appropriate licence type when occasional
care is the only early childhood service operating on the premises. These services are not
required to meet all the premise requirements of a standard service and are not required to
have outdoor space. In services with a LH2 licence each child must receive no more than
five hours a day and no more than a total of 15 hours of care a week.
Further information regarding Victorian children’s services, see: Resources for Victorian
Children's Services
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
7
4. Guiding Principles
Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework
The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) is designed to
advance all children’s learning and development from birth to eight years of age.
The VEYLDF provides early childhood professionals with a common language for
describing outcomes for children. The Framework outlines practice principles to guide early
childhood professionals to work together, with children and with families to achieve the best
outcomes for every child. Further information regarding the VEYLDF, see: Victorian Early
Years Learning and Development Framework
Early Years Learning Framework
Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes
the principles, practices and outcomes that support and enhance young children’s learning
from birth to five years of age.
The Framework is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality
Framework for early childhood education and care. Further information regarding the EYLF,
see: Early Years Learning Framework
National Occasional Care funded services catering for children birth to five years are
required to comply with the practice principles of the VEYLDF or the EYLF.
Inclusive practice and valuing diversity
Children enrolling in occasional care services come from a variety of backgrounds and
home situations. These circumstances need to be considered when engaging with parents
and supporting children in the occasional care programme. Early childhood services are
required to ensure that they have policies and procedures in place promoting equality for all
children.
Where families are accessing additional support from other services, for example early
childhood intervention services, it is important to ensure that a coordinated and sensitive
approach is taken in providing support and strengthening the capacity of the family unit.
(See Appendix 2 for a list of organisations that can provide further information.)
Access and equity policies
Funded providers are required to ensure they have access and equity policies in place that:


are clear, fair and non-discriminatory
comply with the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992

outline how waiting lists will be prioritised

may be developed on the basis of surveys of the local community, particularly with
regard to the hours of operation and the models of service delivery.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
8
Parent participation
Parents and family provide rich and important learning experiences for children. Occasional
care programmes support families in this important role and provide new learning
experiences for the child, adding to those offered through family life.
The National Occasional Care service provider should ensure that its service reflects the
needs of users by:

encouraging parent input into the children’s services policy and decision-making and
participation in quality assessment processes for example undertaking user satisfaction
surveys

providing an early childhood service that is sensitive to the cultural and social
backgrounds of the families, their lifestyles and their child-rearing practices

ensuring that parents are involved in addressing issues relating to their children’s care
and development.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
9
5. Roles and responsibilities of funded providers
Service agreements
Service providers must sign and comply with a Victorian Government service agreement in
order to receive National Occasional Care Programme funding. All service agreements will
be for a term of two years and will be reviewed after this time.
Service agreements set out the services to be delivered and the funding to be provided by
the Department for those services. It also sets out the terms and conditions applying to the
use of the funding and the Department’s accountability requirements.
Service agreements are reviewed annually by the Department through its regional offices
who will assess funded services against the performance measures and targets specified
for the National Occasional Care Programme in the service agreement.
For detailed information about service agreements, please contact your Departmental
regional office (see Appendix 1). The Funded Agency Channel (FAC) provides information,
communication and business tool set up to assist funded organisations. To register as a
FAC user contact the FAC Help Desk on 1300 799 470 or [email protected] or, see:
Service Agreement Information Kit for Funded Organisations.
Data collection
Service providers are required to report annually on occasional care service delivery to
eligible children as part of the Project Agreement for the National Occasional Care
Programme. Service providers will be given online access to The National Occasional Care
data collection and monitoring form in March for completion by mid-April 2016. In
subsequent years all National Occasional Care service providers will be required to
complete the data collection in April.
The form will collect information regarding service operation, utilisation, user characteristics
and fees.
The information collected will form part of the Department’s annual report to the
Commonwealth Government on National Occasional Care funding and service delivery.
Funding adjustments
The Department conducts an annual adjustment process for the reallocation of National
Occasional Care funding from services that are under-utilised. The data provided from
funded services is used to determine whether individual service provider funding should be
adjusted.
Any funding adjustments will be made in accordance with the service agreement.
Service providers can apply to have funding stopped at any time. The Notice to Cease
Operation form is available from regional offices.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
10
Record keeping
If a service is receiving funding for the National Occasional Care Programme they must
keep accurate and separate records that identify the source of funding for the care
provided.
Financial management and accountability reporting
Funded service providers are expected to advise the Department about their financial
status and use of funds through the annual financial accountability report.
More information, see: Service Agreement Information Kit for Funded Organisations
Incident reporting requirements
All National Occasional Care funded services must inform the Department of Education and
Training of any serious incident or complaint.
Should a serious incident occur or a complaint be received services must notify their
Department regional office. The regional office will then advise what action and/or further
reporting will be required.
There are additional requirements on funded early childhood services in relation to incident
reporting (see Critical client incident management instructions from the service agreement
information kit for agencies at www.dhs.vic.gov.au).
For more information regarding reporting critical incidents, see:


National Quality Framework services: Fact Sheets and Resources
Victorian Children’s services: Children's Services Forms
Criminal history requirements
For information regarding criminal history, see:
National Quality Framework services: Fact Sheets and Resources
Victorian Children’s services: Practice Notes
Confidentiality
Services must ensure that information regarding children, families and staff members is
collected, accessed, stored and maintained in accordance with legislative requirements.
Funded organisations are also required to comply with the Information Privacy Act 2000
and the Health Records Act 2001 when requesting confidential information from families
using the service. Further information regarding collecting, accessing, storing of
information is available on the Privacy Victoria website.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
11
Information regarding retention and disposal of information is available on the Public
Record Office Victoria website.
More information on the Department’s privacy policy and the legislation is available at
Information Privacy Policy and on the Funded Agency Channel at
Services should obtain independent advice to ensure they comply with all their
confidentiality obligations.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
12
6. Eligibility requirements
Service Providers
To be eligible for National Occasional Care funding the following criteria must be met:


the service must be located in Victoria
the service provider must be a not-for-profit community organisation or a local
government authority

the service must be delivered in an early education and care service operating under
the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations or as a
Victorian Children’s Service

the service provider must sign and comply with a service agreement, including
acknowledging that any future Programme extension is dependent on Commonwealth
funding

the service must not currently be a Commonwealth Child Care Benefit approved
service

the service must not be receiving Community Support Programme (CSP) funding for
this service from the Commonwealth Government

registered care cannot be applied to the fee paid by families for the time spent in the
National Occasional Care Programme.
Note:

Service providers not currently providing occasional care are eligible to apply for
National Occasional Care funding.

Eligibility does not guarantee National Occasional Care funding. Should services be
approved for National Occasional Care funding, places will be allocated to service
providers based on the criteria outlined in the application procedure in section 7 of this
document.
Children
To access National Occasional Care funding, a child must:

be below five years of age on 30 April in the year that care is being provided

not be enrolled at primary school, or

have an exemption from school if they turn six in the year care is being provided
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
13
7. Application procedure
All applicants will need to demonstrate funding eligibility and a community need for
occasional care. Funding will be allocated for a two year period and reviewed after this
time.
Assessment criteria
Priority will be given to services:

in rural, regional and remote areas

in areas with no or limited access to flexible early childhood education and care
services

in areas identified as having a high proportion of vulnerable families

in areas identified as having a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander and/or Refugee or Asylum Seeker families

with links to other early childhood education and care services, in particular funded
kindergarten programs.
Application process
National Occasional Care funding will be allocated in two phases, allowing service
providers to choose the most appropriate commencement date. The funding rounds are
outlined below:
Phase 1
Phase 1 is for services ready to commence the National Occasional Care Programme from
early 2015.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is for services not currently offering occasional care and planning to commence
the National Occasional Care Programme from early 2016.
Service providers are encouraged to complement current early childhood education and
care service provision (for example funded kindergartens providing wrap-around care or
introducing a three year old kindergarten program) with the National Occasional Care
Programme. The Department will support services to prepare for the delivery of the
National Occasional Care Programme, for example in planning for and meeting staffing and
regulatory requirements.
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
14
8. Appendix
Appendix 1: The Department of Education and Training
The Department has a central office in Melbourne and four regional offices throughout the
state. Each region has a Quality Assessment and Regulation team that licences, monitors,
advises and supports early childhood services. The Planning and Performance teams in the
regional offices are responsible for managing service agreements relating to National
Occasional Care funding. Service providers are encouraged to maintain regular contact
with the relevant Departmental regional office.
Regional office staff work directly with service providers and will be able to support early
childhood services with queries regarding National Occasional Care.
DEECD contact details
The Department of Training
Phone: 1300 307 415
Email: [email protected]
North-Eastern Victoria Region
Benalla
Glen Waverley
Phone: (03) 5761 2100
Fax: (03) 5762 5039
Phone: (03) 8392 9300
Fax: (03) 8392 9333
North-Western Victoria Region
Bendigo
Coburg
Phone: (03) 5440 3111
Fax: (03) 5442 5321
Phone: (03) 9488 9488
Fax: (03) 9488 9400
South-Western Victoria Region
Ballarat
West Footscray
Phone: (03) 5337 8444
Fax: (03) 5333 2135
Phone: (03) 9291 6500
Fax: (03) 9291 6565
South-Eastern Victoria Region
Dandenong
Moe
Phone: (03) 8765 5600
Fax: (03) 8765 5666
Phone: (03) 5127 0400
Fax: (03) 5126 1933
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
15
Appendix 2: Resource and advisory organisations
Resource and advisory organisations can help if you need advice or training to deliver
inclusive programs for children and families, providing care, or administering your service.
Association for Children with a
Disability
Community Child Care
Suite 2
08/215 Bell St
98 Morang Road
Preston 3072
Hawthorn 3122
Ph: (03) 9486 3455
Ph: (03) 9818 2000
Fax: (03) 9486 3271
1800 654 013 (rural callers)
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (03) 9818 2300
Website: www.cccinc.org.au
Suite West
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.acd.org.au
Gowrie Victoria
Cnr Newry and Canning Streets
FKA Children’s Services Inc
Carlton North 3054
9–11 Stewart Street Richmond 3121
Ph: (03) 9347 6388
Ph: (03) 9428 4471
Fax: (03) 9347 9534
Fax: (03) 9429 9252
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gowrievictoria.org.au
Website: www.fka.com.au
1st Floor
Play Australia
PO Box 2060
North Melbourne 3051
Ph: (03) 8846 4111
Fax: (03) 9846 7473
Website: www.playaustralia.org.au
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
16
Appendix 3: Licensing procedures and privacy
information
Information on licensing procedures and advice on regulatory requirements
Services are encouraged to:

contact your regional office (see Appendix 1)

contact the Licensed Children’s Services Enquiry Line on 1300 307 415 or email
[email protected]

Further information regarding Victorian children’s services and approved associated
children’s services is available at: Victorian Children's Services

Further information regarding the National Quality Framework is available at: National
Quality Framework
Privacy information and advice
For questions about the way the Department or funded service partners collect and handle
personal information, contact the Department’s Privacy Unit on:
[email protected]
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
17
Appendix 4: Licensing/Service approval summary
National Quality Framework
(Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations)
Description
Recommended for
Staff: child ratio
Staff
qualifications
The National Quality Framework (NQF) operates under an applied laws system, comprising the Education and Care Services
National Law Act and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. The NQF applies to most long day care services and
kindergartens
Service providers delivering an existing kindergarten program operating under the NQF and offering wrap-around occasional care
Current
Ratios
 Children aged 36 months and under: 1:4 (reg 123(1)(a) and reg 357)
 36 months to preschool age: 1:15 (reg 360)
 Qualifications
 At least 50 per cent of educators must have or be working towards at least a diploma level qualification. (reg 126
 All other educators required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios must have or be actively working towards a
certificate III level education and care qualification (reg 126)
2016
Ratios
 Children aged 36 months and under: 1:4 (reg 123(1)(a) and (reg 357)
 36 months to preschool age: 1:11 (reg 123(1)(c))
 Qualifications
 At least 50 per cent of educators must have or be working towards at least a diploma level qualification. (reg 126)
 All other educators required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios must have or be actively working towards a
certificate III level education and care qualification (reg 126)
Services must have access to an early childhood qualified teacher working with the service for a percentage of the time that the
service is operating (reg 130 to 131) or have an early childhood teacher in attendance at the service (reg 132 to 134).
Services who employ or engage a full-time or full-time equivalent early childhood teacher meet the early childhood teacher
requirements (reg 132 to 134). How this applies to a service depends on the number of approved places and/or the number of
children attending the service on any given day.
Staffing arrangements fact sheets.aspx
National Quality Framework
(Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations)
Staff number
Hours of care
Facilities/Physical
environment
Approval of
Premises
Further
information
A centre-based service must have at least one of the following people present at the service at all times the service is educating
and caring for children:
• the approved provider or
• the nominated supervisor or
• a certified supervisor placed in day to day charge
No maximum hours per day/week
Centre-based services that educate and care for children who wear nappies:
If any of the children are under 3 years of age, there must be at least one properly constructed nappy changing bench.
The service must ensure that adequate and appropriate hygienic facilities are provided for nappy changing, including adult hand
washing facilities within the nappy change area.
Nappy change facilities must be designed and located in a way that prevents unsupervised access by children. For example a half
door or child-proof gate may meet this requirement.
Guide to National Law and Regs
Services licenced under the Victorian children’s services legislation prior to 2001/2 still have valid approval of premise
For more information, see the ACECQA website: National Quality Framework and the Department’s website: National Quality
Framework
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
19
Approved Associated Children’s service (AACS)
Description
An approved service provider operating one service under that National Quality Framework
and
Another service under the Victorian Children’s Services Act 1996 (Victorian Act) and Children’s Services Regulations 2009 (Victorian
Regulations) at one location
The occasional care service (OCC) is subject to Victorian children’s services legislation and becomes the approved associated
children’s service (AACS)
Recommended for
Services delivering an existing kindergarten program and offering occasional care as a separate program at the same premise and
by the same approved provider that educates or cares for each child no more than 5 hours a day and 15 hours a week.
Note: The OCC service effectively operates as a Victorian Children’s Services (LH2)
Staff: child ratio
See limited hours type 2 licence (LH2) ratios
Staff qualifications
See limited hours type 2 licence (LH2) staff qualifications
Staff number
Hours of care
Facilities/Physical
environment
Approval of
Premises
The Victorian children’s services legislation requires that an AACS has a minimum of two staff members on duty at any time. The
minimum requirement for two staff on duty can be met across the whole service.
See limited hours type 2 licence (LH2) definition of ‘on duty’
See limited hours type 2 licence (LH2) hours of care
 Most of the facility requirements for an AACS are the same as, or complement requirements for, an approved early childhood
education and care service. This means that meeting the facility requirements under the National Law provides compliance with
requirements under the Victorian children’s services legislation. There is however one exception:
 Approved providers who are required to, or choose, to provide outdoor space for children cared for and educated by the
AACS must ensure that any fences or barriers at the premises are at least 1.5 metres from ground level (regulation 99,
Victorian Regulations).
The AACS is only required to comply with Victorian Law. See Limited hours type 2 license (LH2) approval of premises
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
20
Approved Associated Children’s service (AACS)
Other
Further information


Children accessing both services can be centrally enrolled
Children attending the AACS must have attendance recorded separately
For more information, see: Approved Associated Children's Service fact sheet
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
21
Victorian Children’s Services
Limited hours type 2 licence (LH2)
Description
Recommended for
Staff: child ratio
A limited hours service is a children's service operated under the Victorian Children’s Services Act 1996 (Victorian Act) and Children’s
Services Regulations 2009 (Victorian Regulations)






Staff qualifications
These services may care for or educate from birth to school age.
Places for school aged children can comprise up to 30 per cent of the total number of places.
Stand-alone OCC service/ Neighbourhood Houses
OCC service delivered at the same premises as another early childhood service being operated by a different service provider
36 months and under: 1:5
 one diploma qualified staff member for every 15 children or fraction of that number
36 months to preschool age: 1:15
 one diploma qualified staff member for every 30 children or fraction of that number
The number of school children cared for must not exceed 30 per cent of the total number of places (reg 10)
 All staff must meet a minimum staff qualification of Certificate III in Children’s Services
 A minimum of two staff members must be on duty at the service at all times the service cares for or educates children (The staff
member who is caring for children must be the qualified staff member)
 The second staff member on duty does not have to meet the qualification requirements as long as they are not required to be
counted in the child/staff ratios
 In some circumstance volunteers may be counted in the child/staff ratios if they are aged 18 years or over
For more information, see: Victorian children's services staff requirements
Staff number
The proprietor of a limited hours service must ensure that at least 2 staff members are on duty whenever children are being cared for
or educated by the service (reg 50). Being ‘on duty’ does not necessarily mean that a staff member is caring for or educating the
children at all times.
Being ‘on duty’ does not necessarily mean that a staff member is caring for or educating the children at all times. For a staff member
to be considered ‘on duty’ they are required to remain on the premises and must be able to support the staff member caring for or
educating children and intervene if necessary.
For more information, see: Limited hours fact sheet
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
22
Victorian Children’s Services
Limited hours type 2 licence (LH2)
Hours of care
Facilities/Physical
environment
LH2 - service must not care for each child for more than 5 hours a day and not more than a total of 15 hours a week (regulation 11).
 Adequate natural lighting must be provided in children’s rooms (reg 95(3)).
 Adequate, age-appropriate and safe toilet and hand washing facilities (reg 101) must be provided. Where children in nappies
attend the service, nappy changing facilities that are adequate and age appropriate must be provided for changing nappies in a
safe and hygienic manner (reg 102).
 Any outdoor space provided at a children's service is enclosed by a fence or barrier that is at least 1·5 metres high
 An adequate number of suitable cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses are provided for the use of children being cared for or
educated by the service
The following are available to and accessible by staff members
(a) facilities to cook or heat food
(b) washing up facilities
(c) refrigerated food storage facilities
Approval of
Premises
An approval of premise issued under the Children’s Services Act 1996 is ongoing.
Further information
For more information, see: Limited hours fact sheet
Conditions that apply to LH2 services:
 The number of school children cared for or educated by a children's service must not exceed 30 per cent of the total number of
places
 The service must not care for or educate any child for more than five hours a day or a total of 15 hours a week
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
23
Appendix 5: Publications
The Department provides a number of publications to help service providers effectively
manage and operate their services. These are available at regional offices across the
state and the Department’s website.
Delivering a children’s program in a limited hours service is a guide to assist educators
in limited hours services.
Appendix 6: Child Care Benefit (CCB)
For information regarding Child Care Benefits (CCB), including Registered Care and the
Registered Child Care Benefit, see: Child Care Benefit
National Occasional Care Programme Guidelines
25