Occasional care provides care for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, generally just for a few hours, so parents can have a break and children can socialise and play with other children.
Some providers allow casual bookings, while others require sessions to be booked in blocks, such as a set morning per week for a term.
What is occasional care?
Occasional care is provided in a range of facilities such as community centres, neighbourhood houses, gyms/recreation centres and integrated family centres. Children of all ages play and learn in the same space.
Occasional Care can be for one-off care or for short term needs, but whatever option you choose, you will still need to enrol your child and book in the care you need based on session times and availability.
Even though occasional care is casual, it is still regulated by the Victorian Government and providers are required to use an approved learning framework.
In Victoria, these are:
- Early Years Learning Framework: Belonging Being and Becoming —available on the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality website
- Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework — available on the Victorian Government website.
Occasional care is a great childcare option if you need to attend an appointment, study, do casual work, exercise or have a break from full-time parenting as the sessions usually only run for a few hours.
Does occasional care also offer kindergarten?
Occasional care does not offer a funded kindergarten program.
What is the cost?
Fees will vary for occasional care because they are independently operated and have varying hours.
Child Care Subsidy is now available for some occasional care to help you with the cost of care. Please check with each occasional care provider to see if the subsidy is available. The subsidy is paid directly to reduce the fees you pay.
Child Care Subsidy is based on:
- your family’s income
- the hourly rate cap based on the type of child care you use and your child’s age
- the hours of recognised activities you and your partner do.
Find out more about child care subsidies and costs on the Raising Children Network website.
Find occasional care
Select 'occasional care' in the map on this page to find occasional care providers within the City of Boroondara.