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Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Programmes are Before School, After School and School Holiday Programmes for children age five to thirteen. OSCAR programmes are much more than child-minding services. They are recreation based, and the care of the child has formally been handed over from the child's parent or caregiver to the OSCAR provider. They aim to meet the needs of children in their out of school hours in a safe and fun way. OSCAR programmes provide a number of benefits to children, their families and communities at large.
 Many OSCAR programmes are run by community groups – schools, community centers, parent groups, churches etc. Some are run by private providers such as sole traders and early childhood centres. OSCAR programmes rely on a mixture of parent fees, government funding and fundraising to run. A Government subsidy is available to help parents with fees.
The demand for OSCAR is increasing. Some of the reasons for this include:
 The number of single parent families is growing
Families are more mobile
Grandparents and other extended family members are less likely to be available to assist with childcare
Many two parent families can no longer afford to live on one salary
More women expect to be able to have a family and remain in paid work
There is more awareness of the risks in leaving school-age children on their own for long periods
The OSCAR Foundation represents, promotes and supports quality OSCAR services nationwide. The OSCAR Foundation also provides resources, training information, and newsletters. OSCAR programmes are operated by community organisations or individuals independently of The OSCAR Foundation.
 Benefits of OSCAR Programmes
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