If you’re studying to become a teacher in Victoria, you might be wondering how to get hands-on experience that actually fits around your classes. Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) jobs could be the answer. These are flexible and paid positions that provide you with hands-on experience that complements your uni coursework. Working in Out of School Hours Care can be an excellent way to level up your confidence in a classroom environment.
In Out of School Hours Care, you’re supporting primary school-aged children before and after school, as well as during school holidays. Most services are run on school grounds, either by the school itself or by an external provider. Each program typically has a permanent coordinator managing daily operations and compliance, with the rest of the team are casuals. With the median OHSC workforce age on the young side (23 years old), it’s a great entry point for your education career while you’re still at uni.
As education recruitment specialists, we often see teaching students get immense rewards from gaining experience in Out of School Hours Care. Here’s how stepping into OSHC while you study can set you up for success as a future educator.
OSHC Jobs Give You Flexibility
Balancing full-time study with work is always a challenge. Unlike part-time jobs in other sectors, OSHC jobs have shifts during before school and after school hours, and during holiday breaks, so you can work shifts that slot neatly around your uni timetable.
Many students choose OSHC because of this flexibility. You can work casually and adjust your availability each semester. While the average shift might only be 2-3 hours, it’s experience that adds up fast. Plus, being enrolled in a child-related qualification gives you an edge when applying for these roles.
Get Practical Classroom Experience
You can start working in OSHC as soon as you're officially enrolled in a teaching degree and marked as ‘active in program’. That means you don’t need to wait until placement or graduation to get started.
Working in Out of School Hours Care is powerful way to fast-track development of your core teaching skills. You get valuable time interacting with children in structured and unstructured settings, which is excellent preparation for your teaching and beyond.
You’ll learn plenty of behaviour management strategies and techniques that are transferable to other settings, like high school environments!
Staff-to-child ratios are usually one educator per 15 children, and you'll be working with experienced colleagues in a supportive environment.
Gain a Diverse Teaching Skill Set
Every OSHC shift is different, and that’s part of what makes it so worthwhile. You'll engage with students of all ages, from diverse cultural backgrounds, and with varying needs, including those requiring extra support.
This exposure is incredibly useful if you’re studying to teach in inclusive or mainstream classrooms. You’ll get a practical understanding of differentiated learning and inclusive strategies - something that’s hard to simulate in a lecture theatre.
Build Your Network for Future Opportunities
Many OSHC roles are based within school communities, which means you’ll naturally form relationships with teachers, staff, and leadership teams. These connections can pay off when it comes time to finding teaching placements or full-time roles after graduation. (We can helpwith that too, of course!)
It’s also an effective way to get a feel for different school environments, so when you’re ready to apply for permanent teaching jobs, you’ve already had a foot in the door – and a reputation for being reliable, proactive, and great with kids.
Add Relevant Experience to Your Teacher CV
Every CV looks better with real-world, relevant experience. OSHC work shows future employers you’ve already spent time working with children, developing your professional communication skills and managing classroom-style environments.
Even better, it’s paid experience that lines up with your chosen career path, rather than unrelated part-time work that doesn’t do much to support your teaching goals.
In Summary…
If you’re currently studying Primary or Secondary Education, OSHC roles give you a unique combination of flexibility, career development, and paid work that won’t derail your degree. You’ll build classroom confidence, gain diverse teaching skills, and start building the kind of experience that sets you apart from other grads.
Connect with an Education Recruitment Specialist
At Tradewind, we support teaching students with finding education roles, including flexible OSHC jobs across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Need to get some classroom time on your CV? We can help you find a role that grows your skills. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our education recruitment team to discuss OSHC opportunities.