OSHC services in motion: Merinda Park, Springvale Rise Heights, Wilandra Rise

Here are some stories from our Make a Move Make a Difference Physical Activity and Movement Competition, held in May 2025. Building on our first post celebrating these inspiring efforts, today we’re thrilled to share three more OSHC services leading the way: Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre, Springvale Rise Heights PS TheirCare, and Wilandra Rise Primary School YMCA. 

Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre OSHC 

To encourage children to get out of the house and engage with their community, we’ve been introducing more physically active experiences as part of our school holiday programs. These activities are designed to promote movement, exploration, and social interaction while having fun. In April, we launched a new community walk and train adventure. Children walked to the local train station, caught the train to another nearby stop, and then enjoyed a guided walk around the lake and through the wetlands. The day continued with games and playtime at a local park, followed by a picnic lunch before making the return trip to the centre. It was a fantastic opportunity for children to explore their local environment, connect with nature, and enjoy a day of active fun. 

We’ve also established an exciting new partnership with Ball 360, offering a school holiday basketball clinic each school holiday period throughout the year, which runs from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. During the clinic, children participate in a range of fun and energetic basketball activities, including skill-building drills and team games, all tailored to different skill levels by experienced coaches. This program has quickly become a favorite among the children, many of whom are now eagerly asking their parents to book them in—choosing active play over screen time at home. These programs are a testament to our commitment to children’s health and well-being, helping them develop new skills, build friendships, and create lasting holiday memories. 

Springvale Rise Heights PS TheirCare  

At Springvale Rise Heights PS TheirCare, we have been coming up with lots of fun and creative ways to get the kids moving – it’s been a huge hit! We really enjoy finding ways to add more physical activity into our day, especially with indoor games that keep everyone engaged. 

We have started doing movement breaks between activities, like quick rounds of Simon Says, stretching, and even some Just Dance sessions. The kids absolutely love it- they get super into it, and it’s a great way to boost their energy and mood. 

Balloon volleyball is also a big favourite, especially on rainy days when we can’t get outside. It gets everyone laughing and working together, which is awesome. 

One of the coolest things we’ve done is set up an indoor obstacle course using chairs, blankets, cones, and tape on the floor. The kids have so much fun going through it and cheering each other on.  

Outside, our educator runs running challenges on the playground and times the kids trying to beat their own records. It’s great seeing them motivated to get faster and proud of their progress. 

It’s been really rewarding to see how these little movement activities help build confidence, teamwork, and lots of joy throughout our sessions. 

Wilandra Rise Primary School YMCA OSHC 

Wilandra Rise School held an Athletic event on 26 May 2025. At the YMCA, we also participated in community engagement to promote and encourage physical activity in school age children. 

Thank you

As we conclude our spotlight series, it’s clear that OSHC services across the region are embracing the movement in their sessions. The creativity and commitment shown by Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre OSHC, Springvale Rise Heights PS TheirCare, Wilandra Rise Primary School YMCA OSHC —and all the OSHC services featured—highlight the power of physical activity to energise, connect, and inspire. We look forward to seeing how these ideas continue to grow and shape healthier services in the future. 

View our first OSHC highlight story

In case you missed our first story highlighting Rosewood Downs Primary School CommunityOSH, TeamKids Berwick Fields Primary School, St Thomas The Apostle Cranbourne Extend OSHC.