Camp Australia

What Camp Australia does

Camp Australia is a private, Bain Capital-owned provider of Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) operating across 200+ Australian schools. The company was founded in 1994 (firmographics reference 1987) and is headquartered in Melbourne, with 1,001-5,000 employees nationally. Its core service is delivered through two main brands: Your OSHC, which provides before-school, after-school, and pupil-free day care on school premises in line with the national My Time, Our Place Framework, and Rocketeers, a school holiday program also running in 200+ schools as well as leisure centres and workplaces. Camp Australia and PE-backed peer Junior Adventures Group (Quadrant Private Equity) together control approximately 20% of Australia's OSHC market.

The operating technology stack is centred on a Parent Portal (web plus native iOS and Android apps) that supports 24/7 family self-service for registration, session booking, billing, statements, and Child Care Subsidy management via MyGov/Centrelink integration. A school-side offering includes the One Child Tablet for live child tracking and safety protocols. The product surface extends beyond core care to enrichment and engagement initiatives including Big Art, Big Art Comp, World Play Day (with a national LEGO Group partnership), Stop.Play.Rewind, Big School Ready transition programming, a Food & Nutrition program, and an Insight Series of educator webinars delivered with headspace and the eSafety Commissioner, among others. The company holds Exceeds National Standards recognition under the National Quality Framework (e.g., Haileybury service) and is positioning for an updated National Quality Framework rollout across 2026.

The business model is a recurring, partially subsidised service: families pay out-of-pocket gap fees on a monthly billing cadence, with the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy paid directly to Camp Australia. Pricing is anchored to the 3 Day CCS Guarantee effective 5 January 2026, which guarantees eligible families at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight. Customer segments are working families with school-aged children (primary) and schools/educational institutions (B2B channel partners), with secondary reach into families preparing for primary school transition. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the Parent Portal and mobile app, supported by school-based on-site delivery, a Customer Care Team (5am-9pm AEST, 7 days), content marketing, social media, parent webinars, and educator outreach. The company is currently facing ACT government regulatory scrutiny of large corporate OSHC providers, with reported compliance and incident metrics under review.

Name

Camp Australia

Legal name

Camp Australia

Website

https://www.campaustralia.com.au/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Camp Australia, owned by Bain Capital, provides before, after-school, and holiday OSHC programs across 200+ Australian schools under the Your OSHC and Rocketeers brands, serving working families with school-aged children and their partner schools through a Parent Portal app and government-subsidised fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Age Wraparound Care (Ages 3–5) (EDACAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

Keywords

• Outside school hours care
• Before after school care
• School holiday programs
• Childcare services
• OSHC programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Iris

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Parent Fee Payments: Families pay out-of-pocket fees for OSHC services, with the Australian Government subsidizing a portion through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) system. The CCS is paid directly to Camp Australia to reduce fees billed to families.
2. Government Child Care Subsidy: From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (equivalent to 3 days/week). Families may receive up to 100 hours per fortnight based on participation criteria.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Camp Australia provides Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services on partner school premises across Australia, including Before School Care, After School Care, Pupil Free Day care, and the Rocketeers school holiday program. Programs are aligned with the national My Time, Our Place Framework for School Age Care and integrate the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) processed through the Parent Portal booking platform (web and iOS/Android app). Families enrol directly through the Parent Portal and pay subsidised session fees, while schools host the on-campus delivery.

Product overview

Camp Australia operates a portfolio-based OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) service model built around two core products: Your OSHC for before/after school care and Rocketeers for holiday programs. These are complemented by branded enrichment initiatives including Big Art, World Play Day, and Stop.Play.Rewind. The company integrates government Child Care Subsidy payments through MyGov/Centrelink and offers families a Parent Portal app (iOS/Android) and online booking system. Educational partnerships include LEGO for World Play Day and various parenting experts for the Free Webinars for Families program. The 3-Day CCS Guarantee (from January 2026) represents a key policy-aligned product feature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Your OSHC: Before and after school care program offering tailored experiences for children including breakfast, activities, and snacks.
• Rocketeers

Products and services

• Your OSHC Before and after school care program providing tailored play-based experiences for primary-school-aged children, including Before School Care, After School Care, and Pupil Free Day sessions. Programs follow the My Time, Our Place Framework for School Age Care and include healthy meals, showcase activities, and dedicated zones. Delivered on partner school premises across Australia.
• Rocketeers School Holiday Program School holiday program operating in over 200 schools across Australia, offering Mission-based daily activities including Base Camp days, Experience Takeovers (incursions), Adventures (excursions), and Projects. Available for ages 5-12 with age-appropriate programming for 5-7 and 8-12 groups.
• Big School Ready Transition program helping children starting primary school by providing OSHC experiences before school begins, building familiarity with routines, independence, and friendships for families with children about to enter 'big school'.
• School Partnership Program Partnership offering for Australian primary schools to host an on-campus OSHC service delivered by Camp Australia, featuring integration with school culture, One Child Tablet live child tracking, industry-leading safety protocols, and access to national events such as Big Art Comp and Rocketeers Film Festival.
• Food and Nutrition Program Nutrition program delivered within OSHC services featuring healthy breakfast at Before School Care and afternoon snacks at After School Care. Over 75% of weekly groceries feature in-season fresh fruits and vegetables, with cooking experiences and a Camp Australia Cookbook developed with a leading nutritionist.
• Stop.Play.Rewind LEGO and soccer-themed holiday program combining creative building activities with sports play, featuring hands-on LEGO projects and active games, delivered as part of the Rocketeers holiday offering.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LEGO GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for national play initiatives including World Play Day celebrations and LEGO play activities across OSHC programs. Children participate in special national LEGO play moments and receive activity materials.
• Kerry EvittsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish-born Melbourne-based painter, psychotherapist, and mum of three who judges the Big Art Comp and shares art activities with Camp Australia families.
• Victorian Principals Association (VPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerVPA initiated Principal's Day, a proud partnership celebrating principals who lead schools with dedication and care. Partnership strengthens connections with school leadership.
• headspacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Kristen Douglas, National Manager and Head of headspace Schools & Communities, to deliver webinars on school leader wellbeing and student mental health support.
• eSafety CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety Commissioner, led sessions on online safety issues for primary school leaders and children, covering prevention of online harm and implementing proactive change.
• Australian Space AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership enabling exclusive 'Ask an Astronaut' event with Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first astronaut trained under the Australian flag, for Camp Australia families.
• Dolphin Discovery CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, WA for 'Ask a Marine Biologist' events featuring marine biologist Chantelle Dixon.
• Lael StoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParenting educator, TEDx speaker, and author delivered 'How to Be a Connected Parent' webinar series for Camp Australia families.
• Dr. Justin CoulsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralia's leading parenting expert and founder of happyfamilies.com.au delivered 'Get Ready for Big School' webinar helping families with school transitions.
• Michelle MitchellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParenting author, speaker, and educator delivered 'Building Confidence and Courage' webinar focusing on child and teen self-esteem development.
• Dr. Billy GarveyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevelopmental paediatrician with 20+ years experience delivered Mental Health First Aid webinar for parents and professionals on children's mental health.
• Dr. Kaylene HendersonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned child psychiatrist led 'From Anxious to Resilient' session supporting school leaders to guide students' mental health needs.
• Louka Parry (The Learning Future)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation futurist collaborated on Harnessing AI for Educational Excellence webinar exploring AI applications in education.
• Amanda Bickerstaff (AI for Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI education specialist co-presented webinar on AI applications for educational excellence alongside Louka Parry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Junior Adventures Group (JAG): Largest direct competitor in Australian OSHC; PE-owned by Quadrant Private Equity and co-leader of the OSHC duopoly alongside Camp Australia with a comparable ~20% market share. Operates brands such as OSHClub, Helping Hands, and Fun Club, mirroring Camp Australia's before/after school and holiday programme model.
• TheirCare: National Australian OSHC provider offering before school, after school, and holiday programmes on school sites. Directly comparable in service mix, target customer (working families), and school-partnership distribution model, though at smaller scale than Camp Australia.
• OSHClub: Australian OSHC operator now part of Junior Adventures Group but historically an independent before/after school care brand serving primary schools. Directly comparable in service scope, school-based delivery, and government-subsidy reliance.
• Helping Hands Network: Australian OSHC provider operating before and after school care on school sites, now part of Junior Adventures Group. Closely comparable service model and customer base, with overlapping school contracts in some regions.

Regional players

• Big Childcare: Queensland-focused before/after school care and vacation care provider with a comparable school-based OSHC model. Comparable in product offering and target segment but operates primarily in a different geography to Camp Australia's national footprint.
• C&K (Creche and Kindergarten Association): Queensland-based not-for-profit early childhood education provider delivering kindergarten and limited OSHC. Comparable in regulated, government-funded childcare operations and Queensland government-subsidy exposure, though centred on early years rather than primary school-age wraparound.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Australia: Major non-profit that operates before, after, and holiday school care programmes across multiple states. Comparable in OSHC service delivery and reliance on government subsidy, but operates as part of a much broader community services portfolio rather than specialising in OSHC.
• Goodstart Early Learning: Australia's largest not-for-profit early childhood education and care provider, operating long-day care centres rather than OSHC. Comparable as a regulated, government-subsidy-funded childcare operator and indirect competitor for working-family share-of-wallet.
• Affinity Education Group: Major for-profit early childhood education provider operating long-day care centres across Australia. Comparable in scale, CCS-funded revenue model, and regulated childcare operations, but focuses on under-5 long day care rather than school-age wraparound.

Emerging players

• Only About Children: Premium early childhood education and care operator with a growing footprint across Australian capitals. Comparable in private, design-led childcare positioning and reliance on CCS, but focused on under-5 long day care rather than school-age OSHC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CampAustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-australia
• Instagraminstagram.com/campaustralia/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Australia