Child Care Options For Uni Students

[milka]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me or point me in the right direction? I'm trying to organise how I go about organising child care while I am studying at university!

I'm currently in my first year of Bachelor of Education. My baby is due mid October a couple of weeks before the end of Semester Two. I am trying to get organised for next year and would like to return to study and put the baby in childcare the days I'm at uni. My university does not offer childcare and does not have any affiliated places.

Does anyone know if there are any child care centres that are happy to take 'uni' babies considering that the days they are in care will change each semester?

What about if I don't want the baby in care for mid semester break or over the Christmas period? Which means ideally the baby would only be in care for 24 weeks a year.

Please let me know if you are in a similar situation and have found something that works!

[feeb]

some unis have a centre on campus.

Melb uni
VU st albans

i know do but i am sure la trobe would also

[milka]

Thanks for your message Feeb.

I go to ACU (Australian Catholic University) in Fitzroy and they do not have any child care on campus. Maybe I'll just have to stop some of the students I see with babies and ask them what they do!

[feeb]

even speak to student union and ask them

good luck

[Ambah]

I have had both of my kids at a regular childcare centre, whilst I have been (and still am) studying. Its a wee bit stressful, as the uni timetables may not be released until a mere few weeks before you start, and you have to hope like crazy that daycare is available on the days you need. I have always somehow had it work out for me though. Or have tweaked my subjects around the daycare days (being a PT student it seems easier to do this).
With the holidays, you can book off a certain amount of days per year as holidays where you pay half fees for their non-attendance. Still expensive - but better than losing their place I guess?
Good luck with it all...

[HotI]

ACU really needs to pull its socks up. A mate is studying there this year, and has had surgery and has to use a wheelchair for awhile. She can't get to lectures because there are stairs and no lifts. I thought she just hadn't worked out where they are, and investigated further only to find out that was correct.

No wheelchair access and now no child care. No good.