Active Kids vouchers a little help but parents still concerned with rising cost of kids sports

With the winter sports season kicking off, record numbers of NSW families are taking advantage of money-saving rebate vouchers to make sure their children sign up — but some fear they are still being ripped off.

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With the winter sports season kicking off, record numbers of NSW families are taking advantage of money-saving rebate vouchers to make sure their children sign up — but some fear they are still being ripped off.

More than 405,000 of the state government’s Active Kids $100 vouchers have already been redeemed in the first three months of this year — 75 per cent of the 540,000 used in the whole of last year.

However, concerned parents have said some clubs are hiking up their fees beyond the cost of inflation.

Some have said football registration fees — which noticeably dropped by $100 at the start of the 2018 season, have risen this year — in some cases by $30.

How much it costs per season to play these sports.

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“I have a son at Oatley FC and the rego cost me $206 in 2017 before the $100 voucher scheme came in,” one father said. “In 2018, it cost me $105 but this year it was $135. Nothing else has changed so you have to wonder why.”

Western Sydney University’s Dr Michelle Cull, a senior lecturer in accounting, is researching the impact sports participation fees have had on families and said the fees can often be opaque and difficult to budget for.

Along with sports management lecturer Keith Parry, she surveyed almost 700 people to find out how much sport costs impacted family budgets.

“A number of parents reported to us the fees have gone up,” Dr Cull said. “When we embarked on the research to find out how much the different sports cost, we found it very hard to compare costs as the information is quite difficult to find.”

She said many sports now require the fees to be paid online, and often through a state sporting association requiring a log in, “and you don’t find out the amount until you put your credit card details in”.

Her research found Western Sydney families were paying more than $1100 on average to play sport each season — with another $450 added on in transport costs.

Parents of Jack Gallen, 5, Jacob Gillard, 5, Hughie Teasel, 5, Tom Gallen, 7, and Ryan Cohen, 5, said the vouchers have been a great help for them. Picture: Liam Driver

“Parents are struggling with the costs, but they end up paying it because it’s so important to the child’s health and well being,” Dr Cull said. Rego fees worked out at about $225 on average, she found.

Dr Cull believes the rebate system is a great idea from the Berejiklian government, but she said needs to be done in the way of discounts or vouchers for large families, those playing multiple sports and low income families.

Cronulla mum Nikki Teasel said the vouchers had been very helpful as all three of her children, aged between nine and five, play sport.

“They have certainly come in handy,” she said.

The government has also introduced a second $100 sports voucher to help with rego fees, starting on July 1. Two vouchers cannot be used for one sport.