Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Suburban Development) (14:23): I rise today to update the house on the extremely successful Get Active Kids voucher program. The Get Active Kids voucher program is a Victorian first. It was established by this Labor government in November 2020 to reduce cost-of-living pressures on Victorian families by providing eligible kids under 18 with vouchers up to $200 to play sport, covering costs such as uniforms, equipment and registration. Just two years on this program is a resounding success. Round 6 of the program is currently open, and I am pleased to advise the house that the response to this round has been phenomenal, with around 35,000 vouchers snapped up in this round alone.

When we introduced this program we said that we would provide more than 100,000 vouchers, and we are delivering on that commitment. It is making a real difference. Over previous rounds of the program over 50 per cent of voucher recipients said that their child would not have been able to participate in sport if not for this vital program, which shows that this program is helping out household budgets and it is having an impact where it matters most. Across Cardinia LGA, in the electorates of the members for Monbulk, Berwick, Narracan, Pakenham and Bass, around 600 vouchers were provided in the most recent round, and across Mornington Peninsula LGA, in the electorates of the members for Hastings, Mornington and Nepean, around 500 children benefited. So from bringing communities together to helping kids live a happier, healthier life through this program, the Andrews Labor government is delivering the support and the investment that our young Victorians need to play the sports that they love.