Beyond the Bell is a project of the Sydney Policy Lab and the Brain and Mind Centre gathering experts from across the University of Sydney to explore how outside school hours care can bridge the gulf between school and work hours while addressing disadvantage and improving children’s mental and physical wellbeing, educational outcomes, social development and safety.
The project is led by Dr Kate Harrison Brennan and Professor Ian Hickie AO.
Our initial discussion paper sets out the challenges facing the overlooked outside school hours care sector, highlighting the opportunities awaiting families and governments if support were available for trialling new models of before and after school care and extracurricular activities.
You can read coverage of the discussion paper in the Sydney Morning Herald and an opinion piece from the project leads in Women's Agenda. Listen to an ABC Radio segment about Beyond the Bell.
The Sydney Policy Lab's pre-election analysis mapping Australia’s subsidised holiday care places found primary students outnumber holiday care places five to one, with the national shortage even worse outside capital cities.
