11 March 2021
Southern Downs Regional Council voted to support working parents at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting and determine the future of the Stanthorpe Outside School Hours Care (OSHC). This decision follows the recent closure of another local care provider and the upcoming expiry of its lease at Corundum Street.
With no option to extend the current lease past 30 June 2021, public consultation will be sought to assess the community’s need for the after-hours school and vacation care program as Council will need to consider an alternative site to continue OSHC’s operations.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said the provision of after-school and vacation care is a vital community service which supports working families and ultimately the local economy, and Council will seek public feedback making its decision.
“After-school and vacation care is an essential service and many local families rely on the Stanthorpe Outside School Hours Care Program in order to work,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“Council has offered after-school and vacation care to the Stanthorpe community since January 2018 and currently 60 Stanthorpe families utilise the OSHC to care for their children after school and during the holidays.
“Council will open the door for public comment on the future of the OSHC to determine how after-school and vacation care benefits local families and the wider community.”
In the wake of another provider in Stanthorpe recently closing, Council has received a number of enquiries from parents who were using this service. While the OSHC service may not traditionally be considered core Council business, it was adopted by Council following the Stanthorpe YMCA ceasing operation in the area of after-school care.
Preliminary investigations have already started to identify an alternative site.