Our Safe Sleep and Rest Policy
Your child’s health and wellbeing is our top priority and we recognise the essential role sleep, rest and relaxation plays in your child’s development.
As a result of recent changes to child care subsidies, outside school hours care is now a more affordable option for families.
Every day, thousands of children across southeast Queensland enjoy outside school hours care where they participate in fun and challenging experiences, develop friendships through play and extend their learning in a safe and supportive environment. Outside hours school care provides families with the flexibility they need to work in ways that suit them best – and it has never been more affordable.
Child care subsidies include the cost of Outside School Hours Care services
Child care is becoming more affordable for families across Australia, including those who rely on Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services provided at BCE schools.
From 5 January 2026, the Australian Government is introducing the new 3-Day Guarantee, making early childhood education and care more accessible for more families. These changes mean more families may now be eligible for additional subsidised hours of care or may newly qualify for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) support.
Under this initiative, eligible families will receive at least three days of subsidised care per week (72 hours per fortnight), regardless of work or study commitments. This provides greater flexibility for families and more opportunities for children to learn, play and grow in a supportive environment.
The changes build on the July 2023 Commonwealth Government updates to child care subsidies, which have already made Outside School Hours Care a more affordable option for many Queensland families.
For families, OSHC is an important complement to children’s experiences at home and school. It might be a warm welcome and a happy start to the day before the morning school bell; or a chance to relax and wind down after a busy day of learning and socialising.
Whether offering a safe transition to and from school or engaging them in enriching activities during breaks, OSHC fosters the development of social and communication skills while affording parents the opportunity to concentrate on work and other obligations.
Eligibility for subsidies to help with the cost of OSHC hinges on various factors, such as combined family income and weekly work hours.
To access the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families must meet specific criteria:
Under the new standard CCS rates:
Estimate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS), consider factors like family income, hours worked, childcare type, and number of children in care.
Start or update your Child Care Subsidy here. This will guide you through the claim process for new claims, and can also help you update an existing claim or add another child.
Families interested in accessing OSHC subsidies should speak with their OSHC service provider or visit our Outside School Hours Care service for more information.
