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 What does OSCAR mean?
OSCAR means Out of School Care and Recreation. This covers before school, after school and holiday programmes for children aged 5 - 13.
What is involved in setting up an OSCAR programme?
How long does it take to set up an OSCAR programme?
This varies greatly depending on a number of different factors. We recommend allowing AT LEAST a term (10 weeks) to get a programme established.
What assistance is available to help me set up an OSCAR programme?
There are OSCAR Advisors throughout NZ who provide advice and support on setting up an OSCAR programme. They also provide assistance with all aspects of operating an OSCAR programme.
What training/qualifications do I need?
Staff should be trained or have experience working with children. Experience, skills, training and/or qualifications to look for include: teaching, recreation/leisure studies, social work, parenting skills, teacher aiding etc. It is important to develop staff to understand children and their needs. All staff must go through a clear induction process so they are sure of what to do in certain situations including Emergency Procedures, Child Protection, First Aid etc. The Open Polytechnic of NZ have developed the only full national OSCAR qualification, the OSCAR Certificate, which we encourage all OSCAR staff undertake. Ask your local OSCAR Advisor what training is available in your area or have a look at the training page on this website.
How much should we charge at the programme?
There is a wide variety of charges in OSCAR programmes throughout NZ. The charges will depend on an number of different factors including: the physical location of the programme; how much rent you must pay; how large your overhead expenses are; what parents in your area can afford to pay; the purpose of your programme etc. There is an OSCAR Subsidy available for parents so programmes should at least charge this amount. By working out your expenditure and any other sources of income, you will have a better idea of what you need to charge.
How much should I pay my staff?
There are requirements that you have to meet under the Employment Relations Act. The Employment Relationship Services website has current Youth and Adult minimum wages. You will need to at least meet these although a supervisor should be paid more.
Currently there is no specific union to cover OSCAR workers, however there is an OSCAR pay scale under the NZEI’s Early Childhood Consenting Parties contract. Go to the NZEI website for more details. When considering pay rates you should take into account staff responsibilities, duties, qualifications and experience.
Can teenagers older than 14 be part of the programme?
What is CYF OSCAR Approval?
The CYF Standards for Approval for OSCAR programmes (the correct title) are a set of minimum standards programmes must meet to ensure that the programme is properly run and takes place in a safe environment for children. Programmes undertake an assessment process with Child Youth and Family (CYF). Programmes that attain the CYF Standards for Approval for OSCAR programmes are often called “CYF approved”, “OSCAR approved” or just “approved”. Parents may be eligible for the Work and Income OSCAR Subsidy if their children attend an approved programme. Approved programmes are also eligible to apply for government funding.
How long does it take to become CYF Approved for OSCAR?
It can take a long time to write the policies and procedures required by the CYF standards for approval. It often takes more than a month to write these and can take some providers at least six months to do this, particularly if writing these occurs outside of normal work hours. Once the policies, procedures and other required paperwork are sent to CYF it will take AT LEAST 6 weeks for the process to be complete.
If I become CYF Approved for OSCAR will I be told how and what I have to do and lose the special culture of my programme?
Definitely not. The CYF Standards are concerned about the health, safety and well being of the children attending your programme. This gives you a sound framework upon which to build your programme with no interference beyond those standards. Your philosophy and how you deliver your programme can retain all aspects of your own richness and individuality which is one of the truly positive aspects of our sector.
If I become CYF Approved for OSCAR will I be swamped with useless paper work?
While there is a lot of paper work involved it should all be very relevant to your programme. Most of the paperwork you undertake will be written policies and procedures. The only paperwork you will receive from Child, Youth and Family will be a letter and a report of approval and then in about two years time you will receive notification of a reapproval visit. Other paperwork will be sent from Work and Income New Zealand as you register as an approved provider – this is usually a weekly payment reconciliation letter and when individual families start to access the subsidy you will receive a notification letter. These are necessary for your annual accounts as well.
How do we become an approved OSCAR programme?
You must provide policies and procedures to CYF that meet the required standards in The CYF Standards for Approval for OSCAR programmes. You can obtain a copy of the Standards, and the accompanying Guide by contacting CYF (0508 326 459) or through your local OSCAR Advisor. The Standards document is also available here.
Your OSCAR Advisor can support you through the Approval process but you as an organisation will need to complete the required policies and procedures. Send your policies and procedures to CYF once you have completed them with an accompanying letter explaining that you are wanting to be CYF approved for OSCAR.
A CYF assessor will read your documents and let you know if there are any changes needed. Once the assessor feels your documentation is complete they will organize a time to come and visit your programme. When this is complete CYF will send you a letter and report outlining your Approval status.
Where can I get sample policies?
Your OSCAR Advisor may have sample policies you can look at. It is important that all policies and procedures in your policy folder are relevant to your programme. You need to show a CYF Approval Assessor how your policies have been implemented into your programme. The Provider Guide to the OSCAR Standards for Approval explain how to meet the standards in more detail and may be more beneficial than simply looking at sample policies.
What funding is available?
Parent fees are the most important source of funding for OSCAR programmes. For approved programmes, the OSCAR Subsidy also helps parents pay their fees.
Funding is available from The Ministry of Social Development in two forms:
 Development Funding is available for programmes getting established and/or working towards obtaining CYF approval. This is a one off grant of up to $3000.00
Assistance Funding is available for programmes who are CYF approved and who meet some other criteria. (Go to the Funding page on this website for more information). This is an annual CONTESTABLE Grant of up to $16,000.00.
Some programmes also source outside funding from Community Trusts, Lottery etc or carry out fundraising activities.
How do we apply for MSD funding?
To apply for MSD Funding you must meet the eligibility criteria. You will need to complete an application form which is available online or by contacting 0800 GO OSCAR. Applications will not be accepted after the closing dates.
When do MSD funding applications need to be in by?
Development Funding closes at the end of each month. There are two funding rounds each year for Assistance Funding. The exact dates change each year but are generally in April and October.
When I’ve had MSD Funding approved how long will it take to get it?
It will take at least 8 weeks to receive the Development Grant after the end of the month that the application was submitted. It will take about 2 ˝ months to receive the Assistance Funding Grant after the funding round closing date.
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