Vacation Care

How to book a place in our holiday program

To access resources and support for booking Vacation Care with St Nicholas OOSH, please visit our ‘How to make a booking’ page.

To book Vacation Care, your child must first be enrolled at the St Nicholas OOSH service you wish to attend. If your child is not currently enrolled, you will need to submit an enrolment request before you can make a booking.

Once enrolled, Vacation Care bookings can be made directly through the St Nicholas App. If places are available and your account is in good standing (with no outstanding fees or holds), your child’s booking will be confirmed immediately in the app.

Families are encouraged to review their service’s Vacation Care program before making a booking, particularly for excursion days or special experiences, as these sessions can be popular.

For sessions that include an excursion, you will be prompted to complete the required excursion authority form within the app when making your booking. A place on the excursion will not be confirmed until this form has been completed.

If you need help with your booking, or if you have questions about sessions, enrolment details, or what to expect on the day, please contact our team at vacationcare@stnicholasmn.org.au.

Why choose St Nicholas OOSH Vacation Care?

Families choose St Nicholas for child care because it is consistent, well-planned, and focused on children’s wellbeing.

Variety of experiences

Our Vacation Care programs offer a broad range of experiences to suit different interests, including creative arts, sports, STEM, mindfulness, and themed days. This variety helps keep children engaged and excited throughout the holiday period, supporting different learning styles and personalities.

Safe and engaging environment

Our OOSH Vacation Care services offer safe and welcoming environments where children feel supported and confident. Experienced educators provide consistent supervision and create spaces where children can build friendships, develop independence, and enjoy their holidays in a positive setting.

Excursions and In-Service Experiences

We enhance our Vacation Care holiday programs with excursions and in-service experiences that extend learning beyond the service. These experiences are carefully selected, planned, and supervised to ensure they are enjoyable, age-appropriate, and safe.

Extended opening hours

Many services offer extended opening hours to support working families during school holidays. This flexibility helps families manage work and other commitments, while children enjoy a full and engaging day.

Professional care

Our educators are experienced in school-aged care, focusing on wellbeing, inclusion, and positive relationships. They support children to feel valued, capable, and confident throughout their time in care. Families choosing St Nicholas Vacation Care often value the way educators help children feel settled, included, and proud of their achievements during the day.

New adventures and experiences

Our OOSH Vacation Care experiences are designed to offer variety, balance, and choice. Each holiday period includes a mix of onsite day camps, in-service experiences, and excursions.

Experiences vary by service and holiday period, and may also be impacted by weather or venue availability. Where changes are required, services will communicate updates as early as possible.

Day Camp

Our Vacation Care day camps offer fun and enriching experiences for children aged 5–12, available onsite at our services. Day camps provide a familiar environment where children can explore interests, connect with friends, and enjoy a structured yet flexible day. Educators plan experiences that support active play, creativity, and provide children with opportunities to make choices about their participation.

• Creative arts and crafts: Hands-on activities that encourage imagination, creativity, and self-expression.
• Themed days: Fun and engaging themed experiences, such as Heroes and Villains Day and cultural celebrations.
• STEM: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics experiences delivered through practical challenges and experiments.
• Physical activities and sports: Games and movement-based activities that support fitness, coordination, and teamwork.
• Mindfulness and wellbeing: Relaxation activities, storytelling, and mindfulness experiences to support emotional wellbeing.

In-Service Experience

Our in-service experiences are a valued part of our Vacation Care programs and are delivered onsite by professional facilitators. These experiences introduce children to new ideas, skills, and interests in a way that feels exciting, accessible, and age-appropriate.

In-service experiences allow children to engage with experts and performers in a familiar environment, helping them feel comfortable while trying something new. These experiences complement our broader St Nicholas OOSH Vacation Care offering and provide variety across the holiday period without compromising the routines and relationships children value.

• Interactive animal encounters: Hands-on sessions with wildlife experts that support learning and curiosity.
• Live performances: Theatre, music, or dance performances designed to entertain and inspire creativity.
• Sports workshops: Skill-based workshops that focus on teamwork, confidence, and physical development.
• Science experiments: Engaging demonstrations that encourage questioning and problem-solving.
• Gaming and technology installations: Interactive technology experiences that combine fun with critical thinking.

All in-service experiences are supervised by St Nicholas OOSH educators to ensure children feel supported and safe.

Excursions 

Excursions are an exciting feature of our Vacation Care holiday programs, providing children with the opportunity to explore their local community beyond the service environment. Excursions provide variety, encourage curiosity, and support children to build confidence in new settings alongside their peers.

Our Vacation Care excursions are carefully planned and supervised by educators, with a strong focus on safety, preparation, and clear expectations. Children are supported throughout the day, including travel and transitions, so they feel confident and secure while enjoying their outing.

• Museum visits: Interactive experiences exploring history, science, and culture.
• Entertainment centres: Visits to venues offering activities such as mini-golf, laser tag, and arcade games.
• Movies: Cinema outings featuring family-friendly films.
• Cultural visits: Trips to local landmarks and cultural centres.
• Adventure parks: Active outings such as climbing or obstacle courses that build confidence and physical skills.

Excursions vary by service and holiday period, and families are provided clear information in advance, so they know what to expect on excursion days.

Child safeguarding and wellbeing

The safety and wellbeing of every child is a core priority across all St Nicholas OOSH Vacation Care services. We are committed to creating environments where children feel safe, respected, and supported at all times.

Our OOSH Vacation Care services operate in line with child safeguarding policies and procedures that guide educator practice, supervision, and program planning. Educators receive training that supports respectful interactions, child-safe decision-making, and appropriate responses to concerns. We also use positive behaviour guidance strategies that help children feel secure, understand expectations, and build respectful relationships with peers and adults.

Child safeguarding is part of daily practice in our services. This includes active supervision, safe routines and transitions, and thoughtful planning for experiences. Excursions and in-service experiences are carefully assessed to ensure they meet safety requirements, including risk assessments and appropriate supervision.

We work in partnership with families to support children’s wellbeing. Families are encouraged to share information that may help educators support their child, including medical needs, additional supports, or individual considerations. This shared approach helps ensure every child can participate safely, comfortably, and confidently in our holiday care.

Choose from before and after school care or vacation care

In addition to our holiday offerings, St Nicholas OOSH also provides before and after-school care during the school term. This care supports families by providing consistent, high-quality care outside school hours in a familiar and trusted environment.

Before school care helps children start their day calmly, with time to settle in, connect with friends, and ease into the school routine. After-school care provides a safe and relaxed environment where children can unwind after the school day through play, creative experiences, games, outdoor activities, and quiet spaces. Where appropriate, children may also choose to complete homework or engage in quieter activities, supported by educators.

Many families who access St Nicholas Vacation Care during school holidays also attend before and after-school care during term time. This continuity can support smoother transitions for children, as they benefit from familiar educators, consistent routines, and established friendships across the year. For families, it provides a dependable care arrangement that supports both school and holiday schedules.

If you need school care or Vacation Care, St Nicholas OOSH can support families with a consistent approach across the year.

What to bring to vacation care

Vacation Care attendees are asked to bring the following weather-appropriate items:

• Wide-brimmed hat. School hats are usually best. Children are required to wear a hat when outside. Sunscreen is provided and routinely applied as per our Sun Protection Policy. If your child is sensitive to standard broad-spectrum sunscreen, please provide an appropriate alternative clearly labelled with your child’s name.
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. OOSH staff are not able to heat or cook food. Please ensure that anything sent can be eaten straight from the lunch box. Our services are nut-free zones.
• Enclosed shoes must be worn, such as joggers or sneakers.
• A filled refillable water bottle. This is especially important in summer!
• Spare set of clothes for water-based activities or in case of an accident or excessive mess.
• Jumper or jacket.

Please refer to your service’s Vacation Care program for specific details on other required items. For excursion days, your service may also provide information about what children need to wear or bring, including any additional requirements for comfort and safety out in the world.