Kids sport $100 voucher scheme helps get children active
MORE children are being given the opportunity to get a kick out of sport thanks to a groundbreaking scheme helping hardworking families to save millions.
NSW
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MORE children are being given the opportunity to get a kick out of sport thanks to a groundbreaking scheme helping hardworking families to save millions.
The Saturday Telegraph can reveal more than $10 million in Active Kids vouchers have been redeemed in the first 10 days of the program, with a total of more than 257,000 vouchers already downloaded for use.
The vouchers give parents a $100 discount on registration costs for any sport for children aged between four and a half and 18 years old.
Clubs across NSW are reporting a boost to membership numbers as many parents juggling cost-of-living demands can now afford to enrol their kids in sport for the first time while others are signing up children for a second sport.
The most popular so far have been Aussie rules, netball, rugby league, football and rugby union. Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said more than 7000 sporting organisations have already registered, with more to come online throughout the year.
From next month sports such as swimming, athletics and even dance will open for registration while cricket will be available later this year.
Government modelling reveals that in some postcodes more than 4000 vouchers have been redeemed.
They have been particularly popular on the Central Coast in Gosford, Erina and Wyong, but the uptake has been spread across the state, with Tamworth and Wentworthville also getting heavily involved.
Drummoyne Power Auskick co-ordinator Penny Langmann has saved 50 per cent on registration for her sons Leo, 7, and Eli, 6.
“From the club’s perspective it’s been a great incentive for new registrations, the parents are so happy to use the voucher,” she said.
“We are getting children in older age groups that are brand new to the sport using the vouchers and it’s certainly helped their decision to enrol, it takes a bit of pressure off the parents.”
At Rouse Hill Rangers Football Club registration has jumped by about 20 per cent — 60 extra children — since the scheme began.
“Bigger clubs will get even bigger numbers from the vouchers and if it happens across all clubs than they’ve done their jobs,” president Mimmo Scavera said.
The club operates at a loss at junior levels to keep the sport affordable for families.
“I’m conscious about the costs, I just want kids out there playing and the only way you can do it is make it affordable. It’s so hard these days for the mums and dads,” Mr Scavera said.
Wyong’s Mingara Killarney Netball Club secretary Luciana Simpson said many parents were signing their children up to netball for the first time.
“The vouchers are helping parents afford it because they have to buy uniforms as well so it’s all in the budgeting,” she said.
Netball great Laura Geitz has returned to the Australian Diamonds team after an 18-month break to have her first child, Barney, and thousands of youngsters have signed up to follow in her footsteps.
More than 23,000 vouchers have been redeemed with Netball NSW — some $2.3 million in savings.
Netball NSW chief executive Carolyn Campbell said she hopes the vouchers will encourage even more parents to sign up their children.
“But whether they’re returning players or new ones, at the end of the day it’s kids playing sport and that’s fantastic,” she said.
Mr Ayers said the vouchers are available all year and can also be used on activities like Scouts and at the PCYC.
“Active kids are healthy kids and for many families this could be the difference to help them afford their kids’ sport fees,” he said.
Kate Brandon hopes the Active Kids vouchers encourage more parents to enrol their children alongside her AFL-mad youngsters Phoebe, 3, and Jack, 7: “Hopefully it drives a lot more people to test it out.”