Child Safety is our #1 priority at the Y.
Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
Location
8 Warner Avenue
Ashburton
VIC 3147
Program offered
School Holiday Program opening hours
Monday to Friday
7:30am – 6:00pm
Contact us in centre
Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
School Holiday Program
Our Ashburton holiday program provides an opportunity for your child to learn from new experiences through a fun mix of activities, while making friends along the way.
We offer a wide variety of interest-based in-house activities, themed incursions and exciting excursions. Our holiday programs are run by experienced Educators who help your child become more confident and independent.
Activities could include anything from drumming workshops to silent discos. We do regular excursions too (such as to Boroondara Sports Complex to learn gymnastics). We've even had a comedy show visit us!
Your child can also get lunch at our café when you submit an order through School Lunch Online. Simply create an account, select 'YMCA Ashburton' as the school you're ordering from, and follow the steps to place your order.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming program – we'll share the schedule on this page about four weeks before the school holidays start.
If you're looking for care for a short amount of time, we also run a Creche program from 9:00am-10:30am and 10:30am-12:00pm. The program is suitable for children from six weeks old and provides a space to socialise and play.
Autumn Holiday Program
Bookings are now open for our Autumn 2026 School Holiday Program! The program runs on weekdays from Monday 6 April to Friday 17 April (excluding public holidays).
We've planned a bumper program of school holiday activities that will interest your child over the holidays.
Activity days can include:
- In-house (activities run by our Educator team)
- Incursion (activities run by visitors to our service)
- Excursion (activities run at an off-site location)
- Self-guided incursion (incursions run by our Educator team)
What to bring
- Lunch and snack (nutritious and nut free)
- SunSmart hat and sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Weather and activity appropriate clothing and shoes
- Swimwear, towel and change of clothes as required (if an activity involves water)
You can also read our School Holiday Program FAQs.
The prices listed in the table below are the full fee for each day. If you're entitled to Child Care Subsidy, what you actually pay could be significantly reduced.
Date |
Activity Details |
| Week 1 | |
| Monday 06 April |
Public Holiday We are closed today for the Public Holiday. We can't wait to start the Autumn School Holiday fun with you tomorrow! |
| Tuesday 07 April |
Skipping Workshop Fit Kids are visiting today to run a Skipping workshop. Jump into a range of Skipping games and challenges, master individual skills before partnered and group challenges designed to get your heart pumping. Category: Incursion Cost: $91.15 |
| Wednesday 08 April |
Super Healers Step into the capes of the everyday heroes who keep us healthy! Take inspiration from doctors, dentists, pharmacists, vets, and family helpers in a hands‑on dramatic‑play village. Explore calming wellbeing zones, test STEM experiments to see how the body works, and visit the Kindness Clinic for mindfulness and feel‑good activities. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
| Thursday 09 April |
Carnival of Motion Y OSHC services from across the region are coming together for an action‑packed day! Conquer the pop‑up skate park, dive into the dodgeball arena, and race your friends on the giant inflatable slide and obstacle course. Unwind with calming yoga sessions between the action, explore creative stations, and enjoy a festival‑style day designed for movement, teamwork and big smiles. Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Friday 10 April |
Taco Fiesta Spice up your day with a colourful Taco Fiesta! As little chefs, you create your own tacos all while discovering the history and vibrant culture of Mexico. Create a bustling taco stand, design bright fiesta crafts, and enjoy games inspired by this tasty treat. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
| Week 2 | |
| Monday 13 April |
DIY Music Box Bring the magic of music to life with DIY Music Boxes! Assemble your very own music box and discover how gears and mechanics work together to create a timeless melody before decorating it with your own designs, turning it into a keepsake to treasure. Category: Self-guided Incursion Cost: $95.00 |
| Tuesday 14 April | Discovery Camps - Manyung We're off to Manyung Discovery Camp to explore the great outdoors. Fill the day with team work, adventurous explorations and more! Passionate experts guide activities created to challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and connect with nature. Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Wednesday 15 April |
Build a Spaceship Craft Power is blasting us into space today! Build your own solar‑powered spaceship using real tools and components. Juniors will construct a Falcon while seniors take on the Apollo, learning about energy and motion as you bring your creations to life. A hands‑on STEM adventure perfect for budding space engineers! Category: Incursion Cost: $91.15 |
| Thursday 16 April |
Dolphin Defenders Make a splash with a day dedicated to protecting our ocean friends! Craft your own dolphin creations, build DIY harmonicas to mimic unique dolphin whistles, and dive into ocean‑clean‑up sensory play. Learn about caring for marine life through games, imaginative play, and hands‑on eco‑activities that inspire true defenders of the deep blue. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
| Friday 17 April |
Gymnastics Enhance your flexibility and coordination while learning essential movement skills in a fun and active 90 minute gymnastics session. Discover how to jump, land, and fall safely, improve your balance, and build confidence through engaging physical challenges. Enjoy group games and colourful crafts throughout the day for unlimited fun! Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
|
Our holiday programs qualify for the Federal Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS). CCS helps eligible families access approved and registered child care providers by partially subsidising the cost of daily fees. The 'Fee' price listed in the table on this page is the full permanent or casual daily fee for each program without any CCS entitlements. *The 'You pay as little as' price is an example of the out of pocket fees paid by families who qualify for the maximum CCS percentage (90%). The fees above are calculated at 85% subsidy to allow for the 5% withheld by Services Australia to reduce the chances of an overpayment. When our holiday programs are open for bookings, you'll be able to see the prices for each activity on this page. These prices are the daily price and do not include any CCS you may be entitled to, which could significantly reduce your out of pocket expense. Refer to the Government website for more information about CCS funding and your eligibility. We also recommend using this CCS calculator to estimate your new subsidy payments. Our customer service and onsite teams are happy to assist you with any queries you have regarding this funding and to help you navigate the system. |
Book your place
|
You can book into our School Holiday Program through My Family Lounge (our online booking system). Read our 'How to enrol' guide and FAQs to make sure you've got everything you need to book. Returning families: Sign in New families: Register Got a question? Enquire |
Curious about chemistry? Bonkers about biology? We often run science-themed activities where your child can take part in fun research and crazy experiments.
Get active outdoors! Our Educators make outdoor play fun with opportunities to sing, dance and get moving.
Go on exciting excursions to local places such as trampoline parks and indoor playgrounds.
Enjoy a range of awesome in-house activities! Your child will get the chance to use their imagination, discover new things and have fun with friends.
Escape into the world of movies during an excursion to the local cinema. We’ll watch the latest release and experience the magic of the big screen.
Learn new art and craft skills with the support of our friendly Educators. Practise drawing, colouring, sticking and more.
Express your creativity during art-themed activities. Your child could get involved in anything from painting to pottery!
Make amazing memories with our expert team of Educators – we’ll help your child feel safe, supported and happy.
Attend thrilling excursions such as skateboarding workshops. Learn to roll, turn and perform tricks under the guidance of the Y’s specialist coaches.
Celebrate the holidays, make new friends and be your best self at the Y. Together, we’ll make the school holiday one to remember!