Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Ministers statements: Get Active Kids voucher program

Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (14:42): In resetting the tone, I am very pleased to update the house on the successful and popular Get Active Kids voucher program. This program was established in November 2020 to reduce cost-of-living pressures and to address cost as a barrier to participating in sport by providing eligible kids with vouchers of up to $200 to cover the costs of equipment, uniforms and registrations. In the latest round of the program, round 7, more than 26,000 vouchers have already been dispersed, and with families having until the end of May to redeem their vouchers this figure will continue to climb. When we introduced the program we said that we would provide more than 100,000 vouchers, and we have not just delivered on that commitment, we have absolutely smashed it, with more than 140,000 vouchers distributed.

In this round almost 60 per cent of voucher recipients have indicated that their child would not have been able to participate in sport if it were not for this vital program. This is consistent with previous rounds, and it shows that the program is increasing participation, it is helping out household budgets and it is having an impact where it matters most. Across the Yarra Ranges LGA, in the electorates of Monbulk, Evelyn and Eildon, around 400 vouchers have been provided in this round, and in the City of Casey, which includes the electorates of Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South, Berwick, Bass, Dandenong and Cranbourne, almost 1000 vouchers have been provided. Through this program all across the state the Allan Labor government is delivering the support that families need so that they can continue to play the sports that they love. Our government was first to introduce a voucher program in Victoria, because we know that providing cost-of-living relief matters to Victorian families.