The Out of Home Care (OOHC) program supports schools to enhance the learning and wellbeing outcomes of students who are in, or entering statutory OOHC. The Out of Home Care in government schools policy outlines the requirements.

Out of Home Care Change Funding model

Out of Home Care (OOHC) Change Funding is short-term streamlined funding for students entering or in statutory OOHC, to counter changes that may affect their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

OOHC Change Funding is available for staffing resources only.

Commencing from Term 4 2019, schools are no longer required to complete an OOHC Emergency Funding application form. Instead, schools will receive OOHC Change Funding through one of two methods:

Method 1: Externally triggered funding

This funding is triggered by the NSW Department of Education receiving a Notice to School or a Change of Circumstance advice from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ - formerly FACS) or its funded OOHC service providers.

Method 2: School triggered funding

NSW public schools apply directly to Child Protection Services for funding using the online OOHC Learning Impact Form (OLIF) (intranet access only). This funding is available to support schools when students in statutory OOHC experience life changes (not already captured in a Notice to School or Change of Circumstance advice) that adversely impact on their learning, wellbeing or access to the curriculum.

The OOHC Change Funding matrix (PDF 187.28KB) and OOHC Change Funding framework (intranet access only) have been developed to support schools with the OOHC Change Funding model.

Further information on the OOHC Change Funding model is available here: OOHC Change Funding model

Resources and guidelines for Personalised Learning and Support Planning

The Out of Home Care in government schools policy states that all preschool and school aged children and young people in Out of Home Care in government schools will have personalised learning and support planning prepared for them within 30 days of a school becoming aware of the students entry into statutory Out of Home Care. The planning should be:

• collaborative
• a strengths-based model
• a way to keep communication open
• reviewed at least annually.

The Out of Home Care Personalised Learning and Support Planning procedures (PDF 47.58KB) provide more details.

Frequently asked questions

Find out more related to out of home care with these frequently asked questions.

Related information

Further information about OOHC in NSW is available through Family and Community Services.

Further support

Child Protection Advisor
02 7814 2923
email OOHC.CPS@det.nsw.edu.au