Cash to get kids up and running

The Andrews government will hand out $200 vouchers to 100,000 children next year to ­encourage them to return to ­organised sport after months of lockdown.

Children practise gymnastics. Picture: Getty Images

The Andrews government will hand out $200 vouchers to 100,000 children next year to ­encourage them to return to ­organised sport after months of lockdown.

The cash splash was announced as Victoria recorded no new cases of coronavirus over the weekend.

Education Minister James Merlino announced the $42.5m sports package fund ahead of the November 24 state budget that is expected to focus on infrastructure as a way to boost the economy.

Victoria recorded its second day in a row of no new cases and no new deaths from COVID-19 and Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average sits at 2.2, while the ­regional state average is zero.

The sports package includes $7m for the Active Schools program to help up to 481 public schools meet the costs of running sport, outdoor education and ­active recreation programs after school.

“We know active kids are happy, healthy and resilient kids, who are able to focus more in class — which is why we are ­investing in the creation of Active Schools,” Mr Merlino said on Sunday.

Funding would also support a new team of physical-education leaders to provide advice and support to more than 800 schools about how to improve their ­approach to sport, physical education and physical activity.

From early next year up to 100,000 children will receive $200 vouchers to help them ­return to sport by paying for uniforms and the cost of membership.

“We don’t want cost to be a barrier to getting kids back and active,” Mr Merlino said.

“This is about supporting kids getting back into their local clubs, supporting sporting clubs getting back on their feet and supporting parents with the cost of living.”

The government will also take part in trials of different approaches to increase children’s activity, including through the use of technology.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton echoed Mr Merlino’s warning and said the high case numbers in Europe were a consequence on not staying on top of very low numbers.

“What we have created is very precious and we need to hold onto it tightly,” he said.

He said there had been a lot of criticism about Victoria‘s targets for the easing of restrictions and critiques about the modelling used, but to change of course now would be “damaging in many ways”.

“I’m very happy we pursued (our strategy),” he said. Professor Sutton said Victoria recorded the best testing numbers in the country and was on track to make ­announcements further easing restrictions next Sunday. “The zero we see today is a true zero,” he said.

Professor Sutton highlighted the need for Victorians to continue to obey existing restrictions such as face masks that he said were a small impost on individuals in order to provide freedoms for everyone to enjoy.