Eligible families can now apply for vouchers of up to $200 to be used at their registered Get Active Kids Voucher Activity Provider, without having to worry about upfront costs.

These vouchers can help pay for sporting equipment, uniforms and memberships in a range of sporting activities – even learn to swim classes for toddlers.

With more than 1,600 activity providers registered across Victoria from the Dancesation School of Dance in Somerville to the Oak Park Cricket Club, the vouchers open doors for thousands of kids to get into the game and help reduce cost of living pressures for families doing it tough.

Tim Branagan, Junior Cricket Coordinator at Oak Park Cricket Club, is proud of his club’s involvement in the program.

“We’re delighted to be part of an initiative that gets more kids of all abilities and backgrounds playing cricket at a local level at our club."

“The voucher program helps us get back to the fundamental aspect, which is having kids participate. Once we have that participation, we can offer development pathways and help kids build their sporting and social confidence," he said.

Almost 80,000 vouchers have been snapped up in previous rounds of the program, and nearly a quarter of those have helped children join a local sports club for the first time.

Importantly, about half of recipients surveyed indicated they would not have been able to participate in their chosen sport or activity without the voucher.

“We’ve had parents reach out to us and say that their kids have been able to start participating in sport and getting equipment as a direct result of the voucher program,” Tim said.

At the time of application kids must be:

• Aged 18 and under
• A Victorian resident
• Named on a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
• Named on a valid Medicare card

A special consideration stream is also available to support children:

• Residing in Victorian Care Services
• Who are temporary or provisional visa holders
• Who are undocumented migrants
• Who are international students aged 18 and under at the time of application.

Clubs, associations and organisations can register as a Get Active Kids Voucher Activity Provider to be able to redeem the voucher from the government. To be eligible, they must be affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Association or equivalent governing body.

Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Officer Nick Cummins said as cricket continues to grow at a junior level, the Get Active Kids Voucher Program will allow more Victorian kids to play the game they love.

“Whether it is using the voucher for club registration fees or to help buy new bats and pads, this next round will help the tens of thousands of families involved in cricket each weekend across Victoria,” he said.

Applications for this round close at 5pm on 10 May 2023. Families can also continue to claim reimbursement for expenses already incurred from 28 November 2022 to 10 May 2023.

For more information go to Get Active Kids Voucher Program