Help centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about fees, programs, safety, and enrolment at Amana OSHC.
Cost & Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
What does OSHC actually cost per session?
Our full fee for After School Care is $38.60 per session. However, almost all families receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which covers up to 90% of this cost. We only charge you the “gap fee” — the remaining amount after CCS is applied. For many families, the out-of-pocket cost is as low as $3.86 per session.
What's included in the fee?
Everything is included — there are no hidden costs. The session fee covers all activities, materials, homework support, and healthy, halal food prepared by our food-handler trained educators.
How does the CCS subsidy actually work in practice?
Once your CCS is approved and linked to your enrolment, the subsidy kicks in before you pay — you will only ever be direct-debited the small gap fee. If you haven't applied for CCS yet, you can still enrol: the government can backdate your CCS up to 28 days prior to your application date.
Are there any registration fees, bonds, or joining costs?
No. We do not charge any registration fees, enrolment fees, or upfront bonds. You only pay for the sessions you book.
Enrolment & getting started
How do I enrol my child?
Enrolment is online and takes about 10 minutes — your progress saves as you go, so you can start now and finish later. You'll need your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and your child's CRN from your Centrelink account, plus your Medicare card. Your child's birth certificate and immunisation history can be uploaded after you enrol. We confirm every enrolment within one business day.
Can I enrol more than one child at once?
Yes. You add all of your children in the one form and only fill in your parent details once — there's no need to start over for each child.
Do I have to pay anything to enrol?
No. There are no registration fees, enrolment fees or bonds. You set up direct debit as part of the form, but nothing is charged until after your child's first day — and only if they're happy and you decide to continue.
Which schools do you operate at?
We run before and after school care right on the grounds of Islamic schools across New South Wales and Victoria, so your child stays somewhere familiar. Check our centres page to find yours and see its coordinator, hours and location.
My child is nervous about starting — what happens on their first day?
That's completely normal, and we plan for it. In your child's first week our educators collect the younger children directly from their classroom, so no one has to find us alone, and we ease them in gently. You're welcome to visit the centre with your child before they start, and you'll get a notification the moment they're signed in, plus photos of how they're settling in.
Program & day-to-day
What are the operating hours?
Before School Care runs for about 2 hours before the school bell, and After School Care runs until 6:30 PM. Exact times vary by school — check your centre's page for details.
What do children actually do during OSHC?
A typical afternoon starts with our educators collecting the children from school and bringing them to our dedicated space. After roll call and a headcount, children split into activity zones by age. On Mondays to Wednesdays we prioritise homework; after that, children rotate through sports, arts, and crafts. The core program is consistent across all centres, with each location adding its own local twist.
Is food provided, and is it halal?
Yes! We provide healthy food ranging from snacks to full meals depending on the day. All food is strictly halal and prepared on-site by our educators, who are fully food-handler trained.
What happens if I'm late to pick up my child?
We understand traffic and delays happen. Our late fee policy is $15 for the first 15 minutes, then $2 for every minute after. This covers our educators staying past their rostered shift to care for your child.
What should my child bring?
Not much — they'll already be in their school clothes, so they can come straight to us. We take care of the rest: homework support, afternoon tea and all activity materials are provided. For Holiday Quest vacation care days we'll send a short list ahead of time, usually just a water bottle, hat and a spare change of clothes.
Do you offer care during the school holidays?
Yes — our Holiday Quest vacation care program runs during the school holidays, with in-centre days, incursions and excursions. It's CCS-subsidised just like our before and after school care, and your existing enrolment covers it, so there's no separate sign-up.
Is there a parent app, and how will I know how my child's day went?
Yes. Through our parent app you'll get daily updates and photos so you can see how your child spent their afternoon, and you can manage casual bookings on the go.
Safety, faith & flexibility
What is the staff-to-child ratio?
We maintain a strict 1-to-12 educator-to-child ratio — significantly better than the government mandate of 1-to-15 — ensuring your child gets more attention, better supervision, and higher quality care.
How does Amana handle Islamic values and prayer times?
Islamic values are at the core of our program. We provide a dedicated prayer space for children to pray Dhuhr and Asr, complete with Wudu facilities. Islamic studies and Quran reading are integrated into our daily activities through our Iqra Circle program.
Can I book casual sessions, or is it permanent bookings only?
Yes, we offer casual bookings through our parent app, subject to availability. You can book up to 1 hour before for Before School Care, and 2 days before for After School Care.
What happens if my child is sick or I need to cancel?
If your child is sick, we do not charge you provided you supply a medical certificate. For standard cancellations or non-attendance without a medical certificate, we require 7 days' notice to avoid being charged for the session.
My child has allergies or a medical condition — can you help?
Yes. Our educators work directly from your child's management plan — for example an ASCIA allergy action plan or an asthma plan — and are trained in first aid and medical emergency response. All of our food is halal and prepared on-site, so we can accommodate dietary needs. Just let us know at enrolment and we'll put the right supports in place.
Can I change my child's days later?
Yes. You can book casual sessions through the parent app whenever you need them, subject to availability, and you can set or adjust a regular weekly schedule with 7 days' notice. Your bookings aren't locked in for the year.
Ready to secure your spot?
Enrolment takes less than 10 minutes and your progress saves automatically.
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