The New South Wales government is encouraging parents to take advantage of their kids voucher program, offering financial support for children’s sports, recreational, and cultural activities. The Active and Creative Kids voucher system provides eligible families with valuable assistance to keep their children engaged in enriching activities.
- Victoria offers the Get Active Kids voucher, providing $200 per child
- Queensland’s FairPlay voucher program offers $150 per child
- South Australia provides two $100 Sports vouchers per child
- Western Australia’s KidSport program offers the highest value at $500 per child
- The Northern Territory provides two $100 Sport vouchers per child
- Tasmania’s Ticket to Play program offers two $100 vouchers
Under the current scheme, parents and guardians who receive Centrelink’s Family Tax Benefit can access two $50 vouchers per child annually. The state government has recently announced an additional opportunity: eligible families who haven’t claimed their previous 2024 voucher can now apply for two $50 Active and Creative Kids vouchers, potentially accessing $100 in total support for approved activities.
The voucher distribution follows a structured timeline throughout the year. The second voucher from 2024 must be utilized by July 14, 2024, while the first 2025 voucher has an extended deadline until December 31. Both vouchers are currently available for application. The second 2025 voucher application period will commence on July 15, with a 12-month validity period.
Important usage guidelines apply to these vouchers. Each voucher can only be used once and must be redeemed with registered activity providers, which can be found through the government’s official directory. While multiple vouchers can be used simultaneously with the same provider, they cannot be split between different providers or converted to cash, gift vouchers, or credit notes.
Eligibility criteria are specific and straightforward. Only one parent or guardian can apply for vouchers per child, though multiple children from the same family can be included in a single application. The primary requirement is that the applicant must receive either Family Tax Benefit Part A, Part B, or both in the current or previous financial year.
Additional eligibility requirements stipulate that the child must be a NSW resident and aged between 4.5 and 18 years. The application process requires setting up a MyServiceNSW account, where applicants may need to provide two identity documents, their Centrelink Customer Reference Number, and their child’s Medicare card details.
Similar initiatives exist across Australia, with each state and territory offering their own versions of sports and activity vouchers, though values and conditions vary significantly:
These programs reflect a nationwide commitment to supporting children’s participation in sports and creative activities, recognizing the importance of such engagement for physical health, social development, and overall well-being.
The NSW voucher system particularly stands out for its inclusion of both sports and creative activities, providing families with flexibility in choosing activities that best suit their children’s interests and talents. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that children have access to a wide range of developmental opportunities, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
Families are encouraged to act promptly when applying for these vouchers, as they represent significant savings on children’s activities throughout the year. The system’s structure, with its staggered release dates and extended validity periods, allows for strategic planning of children’s activities across the calendar year.
