KidSport vouchers on cusp of $50 million milestone
KidSport will soon reach the $50 million milestone in providing vouchers to support children from low-income families to participate in community sport with demand growing for the program.
Since the inception of KidSport in 2011, more than 328,000 vouchers have been provided to about 122,000 children, totalling $49.6 million.
The vouchers offer financial assistance towards approved club fees, essential equipment and uniforms.
In 2023-24, more than $6.2 million was provided through the distribution of 32,200 vouchers to about 25,900 children. This was a 20 per cent increase in the number of children accessing KidSport compared to the previous financial year, with an additional $2.9 million in vouchers distributed.
The voucher amount was increased from $150 to $300 in August 2023, and then in July this year was raised from $300 to $500 per eligible child until 2025 to help ease cost of living pressures on Western Australian families.
KidSport is open to families who hold a health care or pensioner concession card, but if a family does not hold a concession card, they may be eligible to apply for special consideration.
The special consideration pathway was recently expanded to provide support to more families - including children in care, asylum seekers, humanitarian entrants and refugees, and families experiencing significant financial distress.
The five most popular sports for vouchers are Australian rules football, netball, football (soccer), basketball and gymnastics. KidSport vouchers are also for activities such as calisthenics, cricket, wheelchair rugby, tennis, swimming, and more.
KidSport is open to eligible children aged 5 to 18 years old.