Improved Find An OSCAR Programme search facility

We have improved our Find An OSCAR Programme search facility to provide a better service to families looking for OSCAR programmes.

Last year we received lots of feedback from the sector so we looked at ways we could improve the results families get as they look for before school and after school programmes, holiday programmes and camps for their children.

The new improved Find An OSCAR Programme search facility is now online and users will find the following improvements:
- An easier, more user-friendly experience
- An increased number of results showing for each search (up to 10)
- A restricted search area of 30km radius to ensure the results only show up in the specific area users are looking in
- Clearer, easier to read and understand results and map

As before, all programmes included in the Find An OSCAR Programme search facility are CYF Approved for OSCAR Services.

View our Find An OSCAR Programme search facility here
http://www.oscar.org.nz/findanoscarprogramme/default.asp

Wage and Fee Survey 2009 Results

The OSCAR Foundation Wage and Fee Survey 2009 garnered a great response from OSCAR programmes throughout the country.
Thanks to all those who took the time to complete the survey and send it back to us. We received a total of 233 responses from all nine regions. This helped us to paint a good picture of the state of wages and fees within the OSCAR sector at this time.
We strongly recommend that OSCAR programmes take the time to read through the survey results. For full survey results, visit our website http://www.oscar.org.nz/wagesfeessurvey2009.asp

Nominations Open For The Peter Heaslip Scholarship Grant

The OSCAR Foundation is always looking for ways to enrich childhood. The Peter Heaslip Scholarship Grant is just one way we are making this happen.

The Peter Heaslip Scholarship Grant is awarded to a person employed within the OSCAR Sector to enhance professionalism in the OSCAR sector.

The award was first awarded in 2008 to Tunganeiti Katia. She will be making a presentation at the OSCAR Foundation National Conference in May 2010 in Wellington about how she used the scholarship to enhance professionalism in the OSCAR sector.

Nominations for the The Peter Heaslip Scholarship Grant are open now, and close on Wednesday 3 March 2010.

More information and nomination form is available on our website
http://www.oscar.org.nz/awards/scholarship.asp

Newsletter and E-Updates Survey 2010

At The OSCAR Foundation, we are really focused on ensuring we communicate with our members, providers and the wider OSCAR sector. We currently produce a quarterly newsletter for all OSCAR programmes within New Zealand which is mailed to programmes at the beginning of each school term.
We are considering changing the distribution method of our quarterly newsletters to an electronic format. To improve our communication, we are also looking at making e-updates a regular service.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this and currently have an online survey on our website for you to let us know. You will find the survey at this link http://www.oscar.org.nz/news/newsletter.asp

Happy New Year

Welcome to the 2010 year. We hope you enjoyed a well earned break with family and friends, and are now back refreshed and ready for a fantastic year in OSCAR.