Tuesday, 20 May 2025

Ministers statements: Get Active Kids voucher program

Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (12:28): I rise to update the house on our investment to make community sport more accessible for Victorian families. Our Get Active Kids voucher program provides eligible families with up to $200 to cover the cost of uniforms, equipment and registration fees, and I am very pleased to announce that the budget will deliver more vouchers for more children, with $15 million to extend the Get Active Kids voucher program for another two years.

When we introduced the program in 2020 we committed to delivering 100,000 vouchers to Victorian families, and thanks to continued investment by this government, we have distributed almost 190,000 ‍vouchers, which are making a real difference. More than half of the families who received vouchers in the most recent round of the program reported that their kids would not have been able to participate in their sport without a voucher. With more than 70 sports and 2100 registered activity providers, it does not matter what your game is. We are making it easier for kids to play.

These vouchers are not just great news for participants, they are also great news for clubs. By registering as a provider, grassroots sporting clubs get more memberships and more kids taking up sports that they otherwise may never have tried. Every professional athlete started somewhere, and these vouchers are opening up a world of opportunity for kids who might otherwise miss out. Our government believes that children, no matter their background or circumstances, deserve a chance to participate in the sport that they love. That is why the Allan Labor government remains focused on what matters for families, breaking down the barriers of cost and making community sport accessible for all.