Get started in sport – $200 Fair Play sports vouchers for kids

Previously only an option for eligible families, the Queensland government’s recent announcement that Fair Play vouchers will now be available for all kids in Queensland to apply for has everyone celebrating!

The Benefits of Sport for Kids

There’s no doubt that playing sport has multiple benefits for kids, including improving problem-solving skills, learning to be a good sport, playing as part of a team, and developing fine and gross motor skills – to name a few.

But being part of a sport or recreational activity can also be expensive. There are membership fees, uniforms, equipment, transport and other considerations, and if you have more than one child playing, the costs really begin to add up.

With this in mind, in 2019 the Queensland government launched Activate, a 10-year strategy with a long-term vision to enrich the Queensland way of life through physical activity. One of the initiatives to come out of this was the Fair Play Vouchers – created to help encourage and enable more Queensland families to engage their children in sports

2024 Queensland Fair Play Sports Vouchers

Up until now, only families who held concession cards and met certain eligibility criteria were able to apply for the governments Fair Play sporting vouchers. Valued at $150, they were created to encourage families who might otherwise not be able to afford the cost of their children joining a sport or recreational activity.

Recognising the impact rising living costs has had on all families, from July 1st the vouchers will go up to $200, and be available to all Queensland children aged between 5 and 7 years. There will be 150,000 vouchers up for grabs, with an additional 50,000 for children under the current eligibility criteria.

With thousands of different sporting clubs across Queensland now registered for the Fair Play Vouchers program, there are a huge range of activities on offer.

How to apply for a sports voucher

Although there are 200,000 vouchers that will become available from July, they are extremely popular and are usually snapped up quickly every year. They are also issued on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so families need to be quick when applications for extra vouchers open.

A basic outline of the steps you need to take in order to apply for the voucher include;

1. Parents, carers and guardians need to register for an Enquire account before applying for a voucher. You only need to do this once.
2. When the next round of offers opens up, jump online and register your children.
3. Check if your activity is listed as an approved Activity Providers. If not, contact your club to ask them about applying to be one.
4. Check the costs of your chosen sport. Your voucher can only be used for membership, registration or participation fees, and you will need to pay the difference in cost if there is any.

For more information on how to apply online for Fair Play Vouchers, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au

Key dates 2024

Choosing the right sport for your child

The sports that you loved to play as a child, or enjoy as a spectator, maybe a good place to start, although you may find your kids have different ideas.

In Brisbane, we are spoilt with choice, and there is a sport to suit everyone’s individual preferences and abilities. Popular sports include netball, basketball, soccer, football, swimming, cricket and athletics, and are played in clubs around the city and surrounding areas.

But don’t overlook the less common sports, such as martial arts, fencing, hockey, rowing, gymnastics and table tennis. After all, these are all Olympic sports!

When kids are young, it’s a good opportunity to try several different sports until you hit on something that they love. It’s also a good idea to attend trial classes and “come and try” days, to ensure your child wants to commit to a whole season of that particular sport.

Sports for kids, particularly club and team-based sports, tend to be seasonal – summer and winter. Sign-on and “come and try” days for winter sports begin in late January, through to late February, and the season usually commences in March or April. Summer sports begin their sign-on and try-out days in August and September, with the season starting in October.

To find out which sports are covered by the Fair Play vouchers, visit the Fair Play Provider link.

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