Our service, our philosophy
About Bulimba OSHC
Bulimba Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) is a Business Unit of the P&C that provides high-quality before-school care, after-school care and holiday programs (including pupil free days) for Prep to Year 6 children. The program provides a wide variety of age-appropriate activities in a safe, caring and friendly environment.
Acknowledgement of Country
On Jagera and Turrbal land
Bulimba State School OSHC acknowledges the Jagera and Turrbal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we have the privilege to play, learn and work on. Especially, we as a service, acknowledge and pay respect to their culture, their traditions and their elders and endeavour to embed their perspectives in all that we do. We do this as part of our ongoing commitment towards reconciliation.
National Quality Standards
Exceeding in all seven quality areas
We are proud of the fact that our service is rated as "Exceeding" in all seven quality areas of the National Quality Standards. This is a formal assessment process that all OSHC services and childcare centres must undertake approximately every three years. It involves a Government Inspector observing the operations of the OSHC service over several days and providing a report of the quality of programming and practice, safety, the physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, community partnerships, leadership and service management. This currently ranks Bulimba OSHC in the top 3% of all OSHC services in Australia for quality.
- Exceeding
- all 7 quality areas
- Top 3%
- of OSHC services in Australia
- 255
- children licensed
Service philosophy
At Bulimba State School Outside School Hours Care we:
Plan and implement programs that:
• embed First Nations perspectives and pay respect to their unique contributions and history by offering meaningful experiences that allow children to learn and share this knowledge. • offer children an opportunity to care for and learn about the environment and focus on sustainable practices and initiatives to build capacity of children as active participants in caring for the resources, land and environment. • are child initiated and based on meaningful documentation gathered from the interests and developmental needs of all children while promoting holistic development. • encourage children to be an active member of the community in which they live to be active, global citizens. • allow all children to express their opinions and have their views considered in decisions affecting them as stated in Article 12 of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Nurture relationships that:
• are respectful and inclusive of individuals and reflect school and family values and cultural backgrounds. • promote open, transparent, and honest communication between all members of our community which are positive and consistent in manner. • support families in a non-judgemental manner, adapting our service to meet their ever-changing needs, based on their feedback. • are holistic in nature through ongoing, open communication with members of the school community that ensure children and families are supported.
Empower our Educators to:
• become respected members of our school community through collaborative endeavours with school staff. • participate in regular professional development and training to enhance their qualifications that is individually targeted on their differing strengths and weaknesses. • positively impact the service culture through meaningful contributions that improve the wellness of the team and OSHC community. • maintain a high level of care and supervision, building positive and rewarding relationships with children by taking the time to talk and interact with them on a deeper level.
Through these practices we demonstrate our commitment to ongoing quality improvement and lifelong learning.
Broad goals
Respect for every family and culture
We adopt an attitude of respect for all families and educators. Individuals and all cultural identities are recognized and respected at the centre and value is placed on Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as a part of the nation's history, present and future.
Every child comfortable, secure and happy
The program will present positive experiences for the children and young people which are based on gender equity. We aim to create an atmosphere where all children and young people feel comfortable, secure, and happy, through fostering high self-esteem and positive self-concept in all children and young people.
The wider community
We will engage the support of advisory agencies, visiting entertainers, members of the community and families to support the program and enhance children and young people's understanding of others.
Families in the program
We encourage any parents/guardians/approved persons to participate in the program by utilizing their ideas and suggestions that will enhance the interactions and activities of the children and young people at the service.
Child safe
The design and development of our program, policies and procedures are informed by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, 10 Child Safe Standards and the Queensland Government Statement of Shared Commitment.
Working groups
Reconciliation and sustainability
Reconciliation Action Plan working group
The purpose of the group is to support the service (educators and children) in its pursuit of reconciliation in Australia, through the development of a reconciliation action plan. This plan gives us a framework to formalise our commitments and turn them into positive actions.
Sustainability Team
Bulimba OSHC's first Sustainability Team works to create a sustainable OSHC environment, and a more sustainable wider school community.
Governance
Run by your P&C
Bulimba OSHC is run not-for-profit by the Bulimba State School P&C Association. The Service is managed by the P&C Executive. Full updates on the service are presented at the monthly P&C General Meeting by the Business Services Manager. Parents are welcome to join the P&C.
Service approval number: SE-00000972.
We value feedback or ideas, and these can be communicated to our team via email at oshcgeneral@bulimbass.eq.edu.au.
Quality Improvement Plan
Read our Quality Improvement Plan
Our QIP and the evidence behind our Exceeding themes are in the documents for families.
Documents for families