About & Philosophy
A Home Away From Home in the heart of Barton
Telopea Park Out of School Hours Care has long served families of Telopea Park School and the wider Canberra community with warm, professional care before school, after school and in the holidays.
Our story
Located on the grounds of Telopea Park School on New South Wales Crescent, our service cares for school-age children in a dedicated, welcoming space that children genuinely look forward to coming to.
We believe out of school hours care should be more than supervision. It is time children get to call their own - to play, create, rest, explore and build friendships, supported by educators who know them well.
Our name honours the waratah (Telopea speciosissima) - a flower that thrives with strong roots and the right care. It is a daily reminder of how we see every child in our service.
Community-run & not-for-profit
OSHC & the P&C
Telopea Park School’s Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program is one of the few services in Canberra still managed directly by the Parents & Citizens (P&C) Association. This means our not-for-profit service is shaped by the priorities, values and expectations of Telopea’s parents and community – giving them a direct voice in the operations of the program. Parents in the P&C are involved in setting the priorities of the program, identifying improvements and supporting our teams.
Our mission is to serve the school community, and as a not-for-profit we are uniquely placed to:
- Deliver high quality care.
- Maintain continuity of caring staff.
- Build strong relationships with families and students.
- Align with school and family values.
- Connect with the Telopea community.
- Respond to family and student needs.
100%
Not-for-profit – every dollar reinvested into the service, never shareholder profit
Parent-led
Governed by a volunteer P&C committee of local Telopea Park families
~6 in 10
Australian OSHC services are run by not-for-profit & community organisations, not private operators
Exceeding
Rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard across our assessed quality areas
Our Philosophy
What guides us every day
A home away from home
Children spend their mornings and afternoons with us, so we design every routine, space and interaction to feel safe, familiar and warm - like home, not an extension of the classroom.
Relationships first
Secure, trusting relationships between children, educators and families are the foundation of wellbeing and learning. We take time to know every child and every family.
Community & belonging
As part of the Telopea Park School community in Barton, we celebrate the diversity of our families and nurture each child's sense of belonging.
Play-based learning
Guided by the My Time, Our Place framework, our programs grow from children's interests - balancing active play, creativity, rest and friendship.
Acknowledgement of Country
With respect to the Ngunnawal people
Telopea Park OSHC acknowledges the Ngunnawal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our service learns and plays. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community.
We are committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in our program in ways that are meaningful, respectful and developed in partnership.