the Y
the Y
When children walk through the doors of Newington Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), they’re greeted by more than just a friendly face. For Coordinator Renee, every smile, conversation and activity is an opportunity to help children feel valued, confident and capable.
In additional to celebrating OSHC Educators’ Day on Wednesday 29 July, Renee marked another milestone of her own, 10 years working as an OSHC educator, with the Y Ballarat.
“What started as a job, has grown into a career, and I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything else,” Renee said.
“One of the things I love most about being an Educator is building relationships with children and watching them grow over the years. Seeing a child who was once shy become confident, make new friends, or achieve something they never thought they could be what makes this role so rewarding.”
OSHC Educators’ Day is a celebration recognising the dedicated professionals who support the learning, development and wellbeing of primary school children before school, after school and during school holidays.
While many people see OSHC as simply providing care outside school hours, Renee says the role is far more significant.
“We create opportunities for children to explore, learn, problem-solve, be creative and develop important life skills in an environment where they feel safe, valued and included. Every activity has purpose, and every interaction is a chance to make a positive difference.”
At Y Ballarat’s OSHC services, educators provide a diverse range of experiences tailored to children’s interests. Whether it’s creative arts, cooking, sport, science activities, outdoor adventures or simply spending quality time with friends, children are encouraged to choose activities that help them relax, have fun and continue learning beyond the classroom.
“Children are at the centre of everything we do,” Renee said.
“They may not remember every activity we do, but they’ll always remember how we made them feel. Whether it’s greeting a child with a smile after school, helping them through a difficult day or celebrating their achievements, those moments matter.”
As Coordinator at Newington OSHC, Renee’s passion extends beyond supporting children to mentoring the next generation of Educators.
“I believe that when educators feel valued, encouraged and supported, they can give their absolute best to the children in their care,” she said.
“I love seeing my team build confidence, try something new and realise the positive impact they have on children’s lives. When we grow together, the children benefit too.”
Y Ballarat OSHC Manager, Elvie Jenkins, said OSHC Educators’ Day was an opportunity for families, schools and communities to recognise the important role educators play every day.
“OSHC educators do so much more than supervise children before and after school,” Ms Jenkins said.
“Across our nine venues – whether it’s before school care, after school care or our holiday programs, our teams always put children first. They work super hard to ensure that not only fun, creative and educational activities are on offer, but that our spaces are welcoming and safe.
Whenever I ask our staff about what they like about their roles, I’m always blown away. I’m always hearing about how much they enjoy helping children learn and creating opportunities for them to build confidence, friendships and new interests.
OSHC Educators’ Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work that our teams do every day. I can’t thank our OSHC Educators enough for their energy, enthusiasm and genuine passion for what they do.”
After nearly a decade in the profession, Renee says her passion for OSHC has never been stronger.
“If I can help just one child leave each day feeling happier, more confident or knowing someone believes in them, then I’ve done my job,” she said.
“Being an educator isn’t just about what we teach. It’s about the relationships we build, the confidence we inspire and the difference we make every single day.”
Find out more about Y Ballarat’s Outside School Hours Programs here.
