Labor government announces second round of sports vouchers

The second round of the $6 million Sports Vouchers Scheme is officially under way, with seven organisations set to receive a total of $675,000 in grants. Find out more.

Labor Government announces second round of sports vouchers.

The second round of the Labor government’s $6 million Sports Voucher Scheme is officially open.

Intended to help ease to cost of living pressures, the scheme helps subsidise 350 sport, recreation and cultural activities by $100 for children currently enrolled in an urban school from transition to Year 12.

Those in remote and regional schools will work with their communities in order to determine the most appropriate use of the voucher.

Parents of children under five, or who have turned five but will not be enrolling in transition or primary school that year can apply for two $100 Learn to Swim Vouchers each year per child.

As it stands, the scheme has seen more than 35,000 sports vouchers issued along with more than 5000 Learn to Swim vouchers as of July last year.

In addition, seven will also receive a total of $675,000 to deliver programs in communities across the Territory.

The injection of cash is intended to see the delivery of new programs across the NT with the intention of getting more children involved in and participating in sports, and each initiative is said to align with the NT Sport and Active Recreation Strategic Plan (2021-25), which sets out ‘how to encourage participation in sport and active recreation among all Territorians, particularly at the grassroots level’.

Sports Minister Kate Worden speaking with NT Netball president Catherine Sanson about the impact of the two $100 vouchers offered under the NT's Sports Vouchers Scheme. Picture: Zizi Averill.

“Investment in sport and recreation is about so much more than funding a game or the infrastructure behind it, it’s about investing in the players and the people too,” Sport Minister Kate Worden said.

“Sport has an incredible ability to bring communities together and make a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing, long after the final whistle has blown.

“We will always look at how we can fund organisations like these to encourage participation in sport and support players and local communities to get involved.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

Alice Springs Town Council ($150,000) – for the development and service delivery of programs in Alice Springs and surrounding communities

Paralympics Australia ($150,000) – to establish a partnership with Paralympics Australia to develop and implement a ‘Categorisation and Identification’ of athletes’ pathways program

Football (soccer) NT ($100,000) – for pathways and development in regional and remote locations including Alice Springs, Katherine, Darwin and surrounds

NT Major Events (Athletics NT) ($100,000) – towards placing a bid to host the 2026 Oceanic Athletics Area Champs

University of Western Australia ($75,000) – for physical literacy programs at 15 schools across the Big Rivers, East Arnhem, Barkly and Top End regions, at a school-wide level over two years

Netball NT ($50,000) – to support regional and remote pathways for young Indigenous netballers

Royal Lifesaving NT ($50,000) – to review the swimming pools in remote areas of the NT report

Football NT boss Bruce Stadler. Picture: Grey Morris.

Football NT chief executive officer Bruce Stadler said he and all of Football NT were thankful for the continual support from the government.

“The NT government grants that Football NT has received over the years have ensured the game has continued to have a significant role in the community,” he said.

“The current grant is enabling us to deliver a variety of activity from bringing a women and girls team from Alice Springs to compete in the NT Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final at Darwin Football Stadium, to providing an opportunity for hundreds of the Timorese community in Darwin to celebrate the return of the Timor Sea Cup.

“The funding will also be used to assist with special football events that raise awareness of NT road safety, Donate4 Life, mental health services, Remembrance Day and cultural and linguistically diverse community support agencies.”