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The pool entry program, initially launched as a pilot in February 2024, has been instrumental in providing children from low-income families access to local pools in regional areas, encouraging physical activity and community engagement.

First introduced as a pilot under the highly-effective KidSport program in February this year, the pools program was rolled out across 15 regional local governments, enabling over 250 eligible children to obtain seasonal passes to their local pools.

Remarkably, more than 46 per cent of these children had not accessed KidSport funding in the past 12 months, highlighting the program's effectiveness in reaching new participants.

This expansion will extend to 13 eligible pools across the Kimberley and Pilbara, coinciding with the September school holidays, and as the regions' temperatures increase. The expansion is expected to benefit many eligible children and young people across the two regions.

The pool program is administered by the participating eligible local government authority, with the support of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Eligibility for the vouchers is aligned with the 'KidSport Voucher Program', which was recently increased in July this year from $300 to $500 per eligible child until 2025 to help ease cost-of-living pressures on Western Australian families.

KidSport is open to eligible children aged 5 to 18 years old from families who hold a health care or pensioner concession card. If a family does not hold a concession card, they may be eligible to apply for special consideration.