More than $350,000 has been claimed by South Coast parents to get their kids engaged in sport, since the start of the Active Kids program this year.
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A record 3,637 Active Kids vouchers have been downloaded by the region’s parents since the program commenced on January 31.
Member for the South Coast Shelley Hancock said the program was proving to be an overwhelming success among families who were taking advantage of the $100 voucher to cover the cost of sport and active recreation fees.
“More than 3,500 vouchers have been downloaded and will be able to be redeemed with the hundreds of local sporting organisations,” Mrs Hancock said.
“From the 1 March the program expanded to allow individual providers to register with Service NSW.”
As a result, parents will have more sport options for their kids to use the voucher.
“Kids will have more and more reasons to leave their devices behind and get out in the sun,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Kids on the South Coast have a wide range of sports and activities they can get involved with including AFL, cricket, scout groups, tennis, rugby union, netball, soccer, basketball, pony clubs and swimming.
“Meanwhile, parents now have that little bit of extra help with the fees associated with sporting activities and an incentive to keep their kids active.
“We know the cost of kids’ sport and activities can often stretch the family budget. Active Kids is one of the ways the NSW Government is easing cost of living pressures on parents.”
Mrs Hancock said it was fantastic to see mums and dads taking advantage of the program to help get their kids active.
“Active kids are healthy kids and as long as their program is more than eight weeks long and involves a moderate to strong degree of movement - it will qualify,” she said.
Across NSW more than 400,000 vouchers have been download since the scheme began.
Parents have until December 31 to claim and use their voucher.
Visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au/activekids or phone Service NSW on 13 77 88 for more information.
SCORE! $100 ACTIVE KIDS REBATE
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Sporting pursuits
- Swimming lessons
- Structured fitness programs
- Outdoor recreation programs
- Approved active recreation (e.g. dance)
- Other structured programs of moderate to vigorous activity
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Programs of less than eight weeks’ duration
- Gym membership that is not part of a structured program
- Activities that are part of the school curriculum or conducted during school hours
- After-school care services and tutors
- School-run competitions, including weekend and inter-school sport or activities
EXCLUDED COSTS
- Individual items such as jerseys, socks, boots and clothing (separate from rego fees)
- Travel to and from competitions
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM THE VOUCHER?
- Every child (4.5 to 18 years old) enrolled in school from Kindergarten to Year 12 will be eligible for an Active Kids Voucher. This includes those who are home-schooled or enrolled in secondary school education at TAFE NSW
- It will not be means tested and one voucher will be available for every child in the family annually over the next four years
- There will be no limits on the number of applications per family, as long as every child is enrolled in school
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- The vouchers will be redeemable through approved sport, fitness and physical activity providers upon registration
- Please note that vouchers cannot be split between multiple clubs or registrations, and therefore you may not be able to claim the full $100
HOW LONG ARE VOUCHERS VALID?
- Vouchers provided are valid for redemption during the current calendar year activity program (Year 1 will commence from 31 January and expire on 31 December 2018). Vouchers shall expire at the end of the calendar year
- 2019 vouchers and beyond will commence from 1 January each year and expire on 31 December
- No availability exists for retrospective redemption of vouchers
- Vouchers are available for redemption once only for the nominated registered season or term of activity
HOW DO YOU DOWNLOAD A VOUCHER?
- From January 31, parents/guardians/carers with legal responsibility of an eligible child resident in NSW will be able to download a voucher from an online platform. The platform will be run by Service NSW.
Source: NSW government