Last updated Friday 9 October 2020
YMCA Children's Programs is following the Victorian Government’s roadmap for reopening which outlines key dates and steps relating to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
In line with recent updates, our Early Learning and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs have resumed full service and are available to all families.
We understand the second lockdown period has been challenging for Victorian families, as they managed work and personal commitments while also supporting their children to learn from home.
We hope the return of our programs eases this pressure on families while also providing children with much needed social outlets and learning opportunities.
Each of our services have developed comprehensive COVID safety plans tailored to their facility. These plans are in line with both internal YMCA and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requirements.
If your family is ready to return to our programs, please sign into My Family Lounge to update your booking and enrolment details.
If your family is new to our programs:
- Identify your preferred location from our lists of metropolitan and regional services.
- Alternatively, view the locations closest to you on our Locations map.
- Follow our step by step enrolment guide which includes registration instructions for My Family Lounge.
Our Customer Service Team is available to answer questions you may have about the information on this page. They can be contacted by submitting our contact us form below or calling (03) 8371 0500 during business hours.
- Supporting your child's return
- Early Learning
- Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
- List of metropolitan services
- List of regional services
- Health and safety measures
- Remaining vigilant
- Interpreting resources and support services
- Contact us form
Supporting your child’s return
The Department of Education has advised it is important for children to attend on-site as soon as possible, in line with the easing of restrictions. Having your child attending in person is the best way to support their wellbeing, learning and development.
We understand families may be anxious about their child returning to our services.
Please note the Victorian Chief Health Officer classifies early childhood education and care services as low-risk environments and restrictions were previously in place to reduce people moving around the community, not because these services are unsafe.
Each of our programs have developed COVID-19 risk mitigation measures in line with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and our own internal COVID-Safe procedures.
We have also implemented additional health and safety measures which include:
- Contactless sign-in and out process
- Distancing 1.5m from other families when arriving and leaving
- Temperature checks on arrival (any child with a temperature above 37.5 degrees will not be permitted to attend)
- Enforcing face coverings on all adults (not including staff) entering the site.
This page includes further details on the health and safety precautions our programs are taking.
We hope this information provides families with peace of mind that children will be safe and supported when attending on-site care.
If your family is ready to return to our programs, please sign into My Family Lounge to update your booking and enrolment details.
If your family is new to our programs:
- Identify your preferred location from our lists of metropolitan and regional services.
- Alternatively, view the locations closest to you on our Locations map.
- Follow our step by step enrolment guide which includes registration instructions for My Family Lounge.
Early Learning
Our Early Learning programs have resumed full service across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
All families with children aged six weeks to five years are able to access our programs, as permits to enable on-site attendance are no longer required.
Our educators have developed comprehensive COVID safety plans tailored to each individual centre.
We are excited to welcome children back in centre for more days of discovery and adventure.
If your family is ready to return Early Learning, please sign into My Family Lounge to update your booking and enrolment details.
If your family is new to our Early Learning:
- Identify your preferred location from our lists of metropolitan and regional services.
- Alternatively, view the locations closest to you on our Locations map.
- Follow our step by step enrolment guide which includes registration instructions for My Family Lounge
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
YMCA Children’s Programs is partnered with a variety of schools and community facilities to provide additional care options for families with primary school aged children (Prep to Grade 6).
These Outside School Hour Care (OSHC) services include:
These services are returning in a staged approach in line with the Victorian Government’s roadmap for reopening.
Before and After School Programs
Primary school aged children (Prep to Grade 6) are currently returning to on-site care in line with the commencement of Term 4 2020.
As a result, our Before and After School Programs are able to resume their full services to all families across Victoria.
The return to on-site care is happening in stages and is different for schools across regional and metropolitan areas.
- Regional Victoria: children in Prep to Grade 6 returned to on-site learning on Monday 5 October.
- Metropolitan Melbourne: children in Prep to Grade 6 return to on-site learning from Monday 12 October.
We are excited to welcome all children back for mornings and afternoons filled with discovery and adventure.
Our coordinators have been working with our school partners to develop comprehensive COVID safety plans for each facility.
If your family is ready to return to our programs, please sign into My Family Lounge to update your booking and enrolment details.
If your family is new to our programs:
- Identify your preferred location from our lists of metropolitan and regional services.
- Alternatively, view the locations closest to you on our Locations map.
- Follow our step by step enrolment guide which includes registration instructions for My Family Lounge
Pupil Free Days
To provide teachers an opportunity for future curriculum planning, schools regularly schedule days which students aren’t required to attend on-site learning.
Our OSHC services offer full days of care on these ‘Pupil Free Days’, to support families that require additional care options.
A number of our school partners are expected to schedule Pupil Free Days at the end of Term 4 2020. Once these dates are confirmed, our local OSHC Coordinators will provide families with booking instructions.
These bookings will also be facilitated through My Family Lounge.
School Holiday Programs
YMCA School Holiday Programs are an opportunity for children 5 – 12 years old to grow and learn from new experiences over the school holidays.
Each location runs their own set of themed days, which deliver interest based activities that will spark discovery and adventure in your child.
Our upcoming Summer School Holiday Program will run in January 2021, following the Christmas and New Year break.
We will be releasing full program details in late November 2020. This will include a calendar of final dates and themed days for each location.
Enrolments and bookings for this program will be facilitated through My Family Lounge. If you are new to our program, you may wish to complete your enrolment ahead of time. (add enrol link)
Our programs normally operate within over 30 Victorian schools and recreation facilities.
However, some of our programs based in recreation facilities have been unable to run recently due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Our programs based in recreation facilities include:
- Ashburton
- Boroondara (Balwyn)
- Darebin (Reservoir)
- Drouin (Bellbird Park)
- Macleod
- Phillip Island
- Wonthaggi (Bass Coast)
We hope COVID-19 restrictions for recreation facilities will have eased in time for our Summer School Holiday Program.
Updates will be provided directly to families who have previously attended these locations.
List of metropolitan services
|
Site Name |
Suburb |
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Early Learning Centres |
|
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Clyde North |
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Clyde North |
|
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Craigieburn West |
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Cranbourne North |
|
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Derrimut |
|
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Epping North |
|
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Burnside Heights |
|
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Mernda |
|
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Narre Warren |
|
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Pakenham |
|
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Point Cook |
|
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Tarneit |
|
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Taylors Hill |
|
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Truganina |
|
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Wyndham Vale |
|
|
Before and After School Programs (BASP) / Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) |
|
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Craigieburn |
|
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Cranbourne West |
|
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Derrimut |
|
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Point Cook |
|
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Epping North |
|
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Pakenham |
|
|
Burnside Heights |
|
|
Mernda |
|
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Mernda |
|
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Point Cook |
|
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Taylors Hill |
|
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Truganina |
|
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Cranbourne North |
|
|
Clyde North |
|
|
School Holiday Programs (SHP) based in recreation facilities |
|
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Ashburton |
|
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Balwyn |
|
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Reservoir |
|
|
Macleod |
|
List of regional services
|
Site Name |
Suburb |
|
Early Learning Centres |
|
|
North Bendigo |
|
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Campbelltown, NSW |
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Torquay |
|
|
Before and After School Programs (BASP) / Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) |
|
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Armstrong Creek |
|
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Bannockburn |
|
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Campbells Creek |
|
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Echucha |
|
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White Hills (Bendigo) |
|
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Horsham |
|
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North Bendigo |
|
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Strathfieldsaye(Bendigo) |
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Bendigo |
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Eaglehawk(Bendigo) |
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Kangaroo Flat(Bendigo) |
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Kennington (Bendigo) |
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Torquay |
|
|
School Holiday Programs (SHP) based in recreation facilities |
|
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Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre |
Wonthaggi |
| Drouin | |
|
Cowes |
|
Health and safety measures
We understand there is heightened concern around the safety of sending children to child care and education services during this period.
Please be assured we are taking every precaution recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure the health and safety of the children, staff and families who attend our centres.
We have also implemented strict health and safety procedures which everyone who attends our services are required to follow. Some of these include:
- Contactless sign-in and out process
- Distancing 1.5m from other families when arriving and leaving
- Temperature checks on arrival (any child with a temperature above 37.5 degrees will not be permitted to attend)
- Stay home if anyone in your household is experiencing cold or flu symptoms
With these actions, and the increased vigilance of everyone adhering to restriction guidelines, we are best placed to keep the community safe and avoid the spread of COVID-19.
As always, please continue to take the necessary precautions at home to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Stay safe by:
- Regularly washing your hands
- Keeping at least 1.5 metres from other people
- Staying home if you feel unwell
- Wear face coverings when leaving the house
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested. The DHHS website has a full list of Victorian testing locationsavailable on their website.
Use of face coverings
All adults across Victoria who are dropping off or collecting children are currently required to wear a face mask or covering.
Masks are not required for children in primary school below the age of 12. Some may choose to wear them while attending our services, and we encourage it,
Wearing face masks is not a requirement for people working in childcare. However, you may see our staff wearing masks at times. The Government is advising teachers to wear a face cover wherever practical at school but not while teaching.
Remaining vigilant
While restrictions continue to ease across Victoria, we must remain vigilant and not become complacent in our efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
We all must play our part so we can return to normal as soon as possible.
If you, your child, or a family member develops symptoms of a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, you should get tested at a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing facility and stay home.
We will continue updating you on advice and information as it becomes available.
In the interim, you may wish to revise the COVID-19 advice listed on the Department of Education website.
This page also includes further details on the health and safety precautions our services are taking.
Interpreting resources and support services:
- Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned about coronavirus symptoms call the dedicated 24 hour hotline on 1800 675 398.
- Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
- Translated resources: the Department of Health and Human Services website has a variety of COVID-19 translated information for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- SBS News: News and information about COVID-19 is available in 63 languages.
Contact us form
If you have any questions about the information on this page, complete the form below and our Customer Service Team will respond.