Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Ministers statements: Get Active kids voucher program

Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (12:34): I am very pleased to update the house on the very successful and popular Get Active kids voucher program. As I have informed the house previously, this program was established through the 2020–21 state budget to reduce cost-of-living pressures on Victorian families and address cost as a barrier to participating in sport, with eligible kids given vouchers of up to $200 to cover the costs of equipment, uniform and registrations. When we introduced the voucher program we said that we would provide more than 100,000 vouchers to Victorian families, and we have well and truly passed that goal, with almost 150,000 vouchers provided to date.

In the latest round of the program registered activity providers still have until 21 May to redeem vouchers, and we have set a record for inclusive participation, with almost 15 per cent of voucher recipients identifying as having physical or sensory disability. In this round only 16 per cent of participants had never previously participated in a sport or activity, and this figure is steadily declining in each round of the program. What this tells us is that families are using these vouchers and their experience in sport is so positive that they are coming back and accessing the vouchers again over future rounds, as well as enjoying all of the physical and mental health benefits that come with participating in sport and recreation. These vouchers are proving to be hugely popular across a wide range of sports, including basketball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, cricket and AFL. The Allan Labor government were the first to introduce a voucher program in Victoria, because we know that providing cost-of-living relief matters to all Victorian families.