Intervac funding is provided by the department to approved out of school hours care (OSHC) services to support the short-term inclusion of children with disabilities and additional needs. The funding subsidises the employment of an additional educator or educators and is calculated on an hourly rate.

Additional educators employed through the Intervac program must not be counted in the OSHC service’s minimum educator-to-child ratio. Services must continue to meet the minimum educator-to-child ratio requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations .

Services are encouraged to use the additional educator(s) to support the inclusion of all children and maximise the potential of the funding.

Intervac funding can be provided for up to a maximum of 10 hours a week during a school term for after school care and 40 hours per week during vacation care per child listed in the Intervac Funding Service Approval. The Intervac funding rate is $15.61 per hour (GST exclusive).

Services are encouraged to use the additional funding to maintain, where possible, an educator-to-child ratio of 1 educator to 3 children (1:3) to support the inclusion and participation of all children with disabilities and additional needs, to maximise funding potential. However, it is recognised this may not be suitable for some children on the site or on some excursions. 

Australian Government Inclusion Support Program (ISP)

The primary source of funding to help children with disabilities access an OSHC service is the Australian Government – Inclusion Support Program (ISP). To access the ISP, contact the Gowrie SA Inclusion Support Program .

OSHC services that are eligible to access ISP funding may access the department's Intervac funding in the short term, while applying for ISP funding. When a child becomes eligible to access ISP funding, the service is no longer eligible for Intervac funding.

ISP inclusion professionals can discuss strategies with service educators to coordinate inclusion support for the children attending the service, even if the OSHC service is not eligible for ISP funding.

Who can apply for Intervac funding

An approved OSHC service can apply for Intervac funding if:

• there is a child or children with a disability or additional needs needing support to access the service
• the service is in the process of applying for ISP funding
• the service doesn't receive ISP funding.

Intervac funding application and acquittal process

1. Service application

To apply for Intervac funding, a completed service application form must be submitted to Education.OSHC [at] sa.gov.au .

The department will assess the application, considering the children’s needs, anticipated pattern of attendance of the child(ren), the maximum number of additional educators and maximum number of hours being requested for the care period. The service may be contacted for additional information to support the approval. If approved, the department will send the service an approval letter valid for a term of 24 months.

If it is determined the Intervac Funding – Service Application does not meet the eligibility requirements, the department will notify the service via email or phone.

Services are required to notify the department of any requests for additional hours prior to implementing increased staffing.

Download the Intervac funding service application form (PDF 426 KB) .

2. Standard grant agreement

In order to receive Intervac funding, a tailored grant agreement is signed between the department and the legal entity ( approved provider) operating one or more OSHC services. 

The department will forward the approved provider the ' standard grant agreement – Intervac funding' once the service application has been approved.

The term of the grant agreement will be for a period of 24 months. The term of the agreement begins on the first day of term 2 and expires on the last day of term 2 April vacation care period 2 years later.

3. Vendor creation form

The OSHC service must complete a vendor creation form on the first application to provide the information for payment details.

Download the vendor creation form with EFT details (staff login required) (PDF 744 KB) or email Education.OSHC [at] sa.gov.au to request a copy.

Email the completed form to Education.OSHC [at] sa.gov.au .

4. Acquittal form

The OSHC service must:

• submit the Intervac funding – acquittal form based on the actual pattern of attendance of the child(ren) and the actual number of additional educators and actual number of hours that were required for the care period
• report on the Intervac Funding inclusion and participation outcomes achieved
• submit the acquittal form by the end of week 2 each term to Education.OSHC [at] sa.gov.au .

Incomplete forms and those received after the designated due date may not be paid.

Download the acquittal form for Intervac funding (PDF 428 KB) .

5. Payment schedule

Payments are made as follows:

Term 1 and April vacation care periods: mid term 2.
Term 2 and July vacation care periods: mid term 3.
Term 3 and September/October vacation care periods: mid term 4.
Term 4 and December/January care periods: mid term 1.

Health Care

Visit health care plans for individual care for a range of resources to help educators plan, support, monitor and review a child’s health support needs in partnership with families.

Where a child’s health care needs are complex and invasive, contact the Women’s and Children’s Health Network for advice. For further information refer to complex and invasive health support.

To meet Education and Care National Regulations, services must ensure they have health care (medical management), communication and risk-minimisation plans for all children with diagnosed health conditions. Refer to the Education Standards Board for information on these 3 plans for children with health needs .