Nicholson Street Community House - Children's Programmes

Children

What's New?

2012-02-22 - Our programme for Semester 1 2012 is now on-line and available for download (PDF, 362KB).

2012-01-09 - We've replaced our Volunteering page with a broader "Positions Vacant" section on the site: check this out if you're interested in occasional or ongoing volunteer or paid positions at Nicholson Street. There won't always be places available, of course, so we'll announce new opportunities on our Facebook page as they arise.

2011-12-06 - We have established an NSCH page on Facebook for immediate updates to courses and other fast information sharing.

Please Note

Occasional Chilcare - It was with deep regret and after much soul-searching that Nicholson Street Community House had to announce that our Occasional Childcare service would cease at the end of 2011, due to the withdrawal of government funding.

Feedback - We're looking for your suggestions for new programme ideas!

Site History

2006-06-28 - Our website goes live!

2011-12-06 - We established our Facebook page.

Nicholson Street offers a range of programmes for children from newborns through junior high school. We also offer school holiday groups from time to time.

Note: All publications linked on this page are downloadable as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. For links to PDF reader software, please see the sidebar at right.

Kids Art

For children aged 6-12 years. The course offers a wide range of art experiences each term including drawing, collage, painting, sculpture and much more. Classes are taught by a professional art teacher, and we supply all the materials.

Classes run on Thursdays after school from 4 pm - 6 pm, during school terms.

Term dates and fees are shown on the Programmes page. Prior enrolment is essential.

Download

Enrolment Form 2012 [181 KB]

PLAYGROUP (WEDNESDAYS)

A facilitated playgroup for parents with younger kids. Each session will involve art or craft activities, storytelling and semi-structured play.

TERM 1: STARTS MARCH 7th (4 WEEKS)
TERM 2: STARTS APRIL 18th (10 WEEKS - no group April 25th)
TIME: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
COST: $10 FOR ONE CHILD / $15 PER FAMILY, PAID AS A TERM FEE
We may also offer a playgroup for older (3-5 years) children later in the year subject to interest. Please let us know if you are interested.

TOTAL DRAMA (WEDNESDAYS, AFTER SCHOOL)

For children aged 10-14 years. Further details to be confirmed.

TERM 2: STARTS MAY 2nd (8 WEEKS)
TIME: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
COST: $12 PER SESSION PAYABLE AS A TERM FEE

EASTER ART (MONDAY, SCHOOL HOLIDAYS)

Explore and develop skills in basic art techniques with an Easter theme. Primary to lower high school kids.

DATE: APRIL 2nd
TIME: 10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON
COST: $25, $22 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL SIBLING
MATERIALS ARE SUPPLIED

CREATIVE FAMILY WORKSHOPS (SATURDAYS, MONTHLY)

An occasional series of workshops exploring different kinds of creative activities for parents and kids. Programme details will be notified on Facebook or through our office.

DATES: MARCH 24th, APRIL 28th, MAY 26th, JUNE 22nd
TIME: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
COST: VARIES ACCORDING TO ACTIVITY. DETAILS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THROUGH THE OFFICE.

A Notice About Childcare

In 2011 the state government chose to stop funding the "Take a Break" occasional childcare programme.

Nicholson Street Community House received a small amount of funding for our childcare services through this scheme. Even so, for many years the House has heavily subsidised the Occasional Childcare/3 Year Old Activity Group programme we offered.

With the withdrawal of funding, the imposition on the House's finances was too great to bear, and the House Committee of Management regretfully acknowledged that the only practical solution was to close our childcare service.

Despite offering a limited programme, occasional childcare is subject to the same rules and regulations as full daycare. For a small organisation the costs of compliance are significant. Changes to the legislation due to take effect in 2012 will make the provision of occasional childcare even more onerous for the provider.

In addition to the direct loss of funding dollars, occasional childcare centres also lost the automatic public liability insurance coverage that comes through receiving government funding. The House would have been required to provide that cover through private means, adding - in our case - an additional $2000 per annum on top of the shortfall in funding.

With the closure of the service we have also had to let go three staff members, and reduce the hours of a fourth. In order to make the former childcare room more practical for other programmes, we have sold off or given away a large percentage of our equipment. We will also not be renewing our childcare accreditation. All of this means, in turn, that there is almost no likelihood that Nicholson Street will ever again be in a position to offer a childcare service.

At the end of 2011 we were adivsed by two local Neighbourhood Houses that they had places available in their Occasional Childcare Services. These are: