Tea Gardens Public School OOSH service to be taken up by local provider Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad Myall Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - March 1, 2024 The future operator of the Tea Gardens Public School OOSH has run as Amaroo Early Learning Centre in Tea Gardens since 2020. PARENTS of students at Tea Gardens Public School (TGPS) will soon breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing the town’s Out Of School Hours (OOSH) care situation is set to be resolved. Tea Gardens’ Amaroo Early Learning Centre, on Coupland Avenue, is currently acquiring approvals needed to take over the service, although their receiving late notification of the situation last year means a gap for now. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “When we found out, I approached Mark (TGPS Principal) to see if we could help out and support the families, he was very supportive and put us in contact with the NSW Department of Education,” Robert Guirguis, Director at Amaroo, told NOTA. “We were very keen, as we believe that this is a service that the Tea Gardens community deserves, especially to support working families with children. “The approval process is quite time-consuming, as the safety and wellbeing of children is paramount and we need to provide evidence to the Department that we have the right policies and procedures in place.” Further bureaucratic hurdles must be leapt, including Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approvals that will allow fees to be subsidised. “As a working parent in this town, I am very thankful to Amaroo for taking over OOSH,” Renee Bollom told NOTA. “I am thrilled that the opening times have remained the same as I can now keep my scheduled hours at work, my income isn’t compromised.” Renee, like other working parents, was nearly forced to leave town seeking suitable services, as there are currently no other OOSH care alternatives available in Tea Gardens or Hawks Nest. “In anticipation of formal approvals, Amaroo OSHC at Tea Gardens Public School hopes to be operational in Mid-March 2024, where we will be offering before and after school care as well as vacation care,” Robert added. “The staff are excited, dedicated and passionate about caring for children and can’t wait to open, we have lots of great activities planned, and hope with the right level of support we will be able to provide this important service. “As with Amaroo ELC, we are looking to work collaboratively and in partnership with the community to make sure we provide families with the type of service they need.” Families can contact Amaroo at office@amarooOSHC.com.au for more information. By Thomas O’KEEFE
