School holidays arrive four times a year, bringing six to eight weeks of time when children are out of school but parents still need to work. For families in Healesville and the Yarra Valley, finding quality, engaging holiday care that doesn't break the bank is a real challenge.
Loving Start Childcare & Education offers a professional Holiday Care program at $164 per day, designed to give school-aged children a memorable, activity-rich experience in every school holiday period — while giving working parents genuine peace of mind.
What Is Holiday Care?
Holiday Care (also called Vacation Care) is an approved childcare program that runs during school holiday periods for primary school-aged children. Like Before and After School Care, Holiday Care operates under the National Quality Framework and is eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) — significantly reducing the out-of-pocket cost for eligible families.
At Loving Start, our Holiday Care program is not just supervised downtime. It is a purposefully planned series of activities, excursions, incursions, and experiences that genuinely excite children and create lasting memories.
The Loving Start Holiday Care Experience
A Full Day of Meaningful Activity
Our Holiday Care day runs from 6:30am to 6:30pm, giving families a full and flexible day of care. Our educators plan themed programs for each holiday period, drawing inspiration from the Yarra Valley's remarkable natural environment, cultural calendar, and children's own interests.
A typical Holiday Care day at Loving Start might include:
Morning:
- Nutritious breakfast
- Morning welcome and program overview
- Incursion, creative project, or group activity
- Active outdoor play
Midday:
- Lunch (provided or packed — confirm with the centre)
- Rest time or quiet activity for children who need it
- Free choice indoor/outdoor play
Afternoon:
- Themed afternoon activity — arts and crafts, cooking, STEM projects, sports
- Afternoon snack
- Wind-down and late afternoon free play
Themed Holiday Programs
Each holiday period has its own theme and program. Past and planned themes have included:
- Nature Explorers — inspired by the Yarra Valley and Healesville Sanctuary, celebrating local wildlife and environmental stewardship
- Creative Arts Week — painting, sculpture, drama, music, and crafting
- Science and Discovery — hands-on experiments, building challenges, and curious minds
- Sports and Adventure — active games, team sports, obstacle courses, and movement
- Cooking and Nutrition — child-friendly cooking projects that teach skills and science
- Cultural Celebration — exploring First Nations stories, global traditions, and community
Excursions and Incursions
One of the highlights of any quality Holiday Care program is the opportunity for excursions and special incursions. Healesville and the Yarra Valley offer an extraordinary backdrop for excursions that children genuinely love:
- Healesville Sanctuary — one of Australia's best wildlife parks, home to native animals including platypus, Tasmanian devils, and owls, right in the children's backyard
- Maroondah Reservoir Park — a stunning natural park with easy walking trails, picnic areas, and beautiful bush scenery
- Badger Creek — swimming in natural waterways (weather and safety permitting)
- Yarra Valley farms and gardens — seasonal activities including strawberry picking and farm visits
Incursions bring experiences directly to the centre:
- Visiting performers, artists, and scientists
- Sports coaches
- Cultural workshops
- Animal handlers and wildlife educators
*Excursions and incursions are planned seasonally and vary by holiday period. All activities comply with safety and supervision requirements under the National Quality Framework.*
Fees and Child Care Subsidy for Holiday Care
Loving Start's Holiday Care is priced at $164 per day — competitive within the Healesville and Yarra Valley market. With the Child Care Subsidy, eligible families can reduce this cost significantly.
| Family Income | CCS Rate | Full Fee | Estimated Out-of-Pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $85,279 | 90% | $164 | ~$16–$25/day |
| ~$100,000 | ~80% | $164 | ~$33/day |
| ~$150,000 | ~65% | $164 | ~$57/day |
| ~$200,000 | ~52% | $164 | ~$79/day |
*Note: CCS applies to an hourly rate cap. Estimates are indicative only. Confirm with Services Australia for your specific subsidy.*
Compared to competitors in the area (Steel Street Children's Centre at $170.40/day, Healesville Early Learning Centre at approximately $162/day), Loving Start's Holiday Care pricing represents strong value alongside a purposefully designed program.
Why Working Parents in the Yarra Valley Love Holiday Care
For the majority of families in Healesville, both parents work — or there is a single working parent — meaning school holidays would otherwise be an unsustainable juggle of annual leave, family favours, and expensive ad hoc arrangements.
Quality Holiday Care provides:
- Consistent, professional supervision by qualified and vetted educators
- Genuine engagement — children are occupied, challenged, and having fun
- Social connection — children maintain and build friendships during holiday periods
- Physical activity — countering the screen-heavy holiday downtime that's all too easy to fall into
- Peace of mind — parents can focus on work knowing their children are genuinely well cared for
A 2022 survey by Early Childhood Australia found that 78% of parents rated the quality of their child's holiday care experience as a primary factor in their overall childcare satisfaction. It's not just what happens during the school year that matters — school holidays count too.
The Yarra Valley Advantage
Children growing up in Healesville are surrounded by one of Victoria's most beautiful natural environments — the Yarra Valley. Loving Start's Holiday Care program leans into this advantage, using the landscape, wildlife, and community of Healesville as an active part of the curriculum.
From spotting native birds in the Maroondah Reservoir parklands to learning about local wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, our children develop a genuine connection to the place they live — and carry that environmental awareness and sense of belonging with them for life.
This place-based learning approach aligns with the My Time, Our Place (MTOP) framework, the national curriculum for school-age care in Australia, which emphasises belonging, being, and becoming in the context of children's communities and environments.
How to Book Holiday Care at Loving Start
Holiday Care places fill quickly, especially during long school holiday periods. We recommend booking as early as possible — ideally at least four weeks before the holiday period begins.
To book:
- Contact us to confirm availability for the holiday period
- Complete a Holiday Care enrolment or booking form
- Confirm your CCS is active (apply through myGov if you haven't already)
- Receive your program details ahead of the holiday
Contact Loving Start today to secure your child's place:
- Call us: 03 5905 3735
- Email: Healesville@Lovingstart.com.au
- Visit: 349–353 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777