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SA-BEST urges government to boost Sports Voucher to help our kids thrive outside of the classroom

29 Jan, 2024
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SA-BEST is calling on the Malinauskas Government to double the annual sports voucher to $200 to encourage and support young South Australians to participate in sport and other extra-curricular activities.

With seasonal fees in the hundreds of dollars, not to mention uniforms, footwear, equipment and match day payments, taking part is fast becoming out of reach for the average child and family.

Compared to Western Australia, which reimburses up to $300 per year for eligible school students, Victoria funding $200 per child and Queensland $150 per child, SA-BEST thinks it is time for South Australia to lift its game.

The current South Australian $100 sports voucher program also cuts off after Year 9, something SA-BEST is urging the government to reconsider, given the positive impacts sports and other extracurricular activities have on teenage physical and mental health.

Keeping fit and healthy is just as important for teenagers as it is for primary school-aged children.

Furthermore, SA-BEST’s Connie Bonaros MLC is inviting the Premier to have a conversation about playing fees for female-dominated sports such as netball. A junior player attending a Friday night at Netball SA Stadium, for example, must pay an $8.40 entrance fee.

“I am not aware of football players being forced to pay to play. It adds up over a season. It costs for families to watch a game. In this current cost of living crisis, you can bet it’s stopping some girls from signing up.

“$100 per year per child barely covers the cost of football boots.

“We need to help school students and their families out of the classroom just as much as in the classroom, to keep the screen time down and to keep them fit and healthy.

“Today’s announcement of cost-of-living help for some school children and their families is welcome. Rolling out access to laptops is welcome. But we also need to be mindful kids need to get their heads out of their devices and onto the court, the field or into the water.

“Have you seen how much it costs these days? $100 just doesn’t cut it. It doesn’t even touch the sides.

“Cutting off government support for a fifteen-year-old could mean the difference between them signing up this season or sitting on the couch.

“And don’t get me started on the inequality of our young netballers having to pay stadium entrance fees to play each week. It doesn’t happen for footy.

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