Community Sport for kids is going to be much more affordable this summer as part of an initiative by the Victorian Government.
The Victorian Government’s Get Active Kids Voucher Program has been launched again and applications are now open for the next round. The Get Active Kids Voucher Program enables eligible families to have their kids involved in community sports and recreation activities – through compensation of membership costs, registration fees, uniforms, and equipment. The vouchers can be used for a range of activities such as club cricket, dance, learn to swim classes, and many more.
In order for organisations, clubs, and associations to be eligible, they need to be affiliated with a State Sporting body or an equivalent governing body and must be certified as a Get Active Kids Voucher Activity Provider to redeem vouchers. Clubs, associations, and organisations can register anytime to be certified providers of the program.
Registered providers of the program will submit voucher codes to the government in order to be reimbursed for the costs of registration and/or membership fees, apparel, and equipment costs. Eligible families are able to apply for vouchers of up to $200, which can be used at any registered sporting club/activity provider without having to pay any upfront costs.
Children must be under the age of 18, a Victorian resident, named on a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, and named on a valid Medicare Card at the time of application to be eligible. The Victorian Government, through a special consideration stream, are able to support children residing in Victorian care services, provisional visa holders, international students, and undocumented migrants under the age of 18 during the application process.
In the first four rounds of the program, over 58,000 vouchers have been distributed, encouraging and enabling several kids to join a local sports club/activity provider for the first time. More than 50% of the recipients during the rollout of the program’s latest round highlighted they wouldn’t be able to participate in community sports without the voucher.
Applications for the latest round of the program close on November 30, 2022 at 5 pm. Expenses incurred by families, preceding the commencement of the latest round, can continue to be claimed for reimbursements.