Families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A – almost half in NSW covering around 600,000 (out of 1.35 million total) school-aged children – will be able to access the vouchers which will be reduced to $50 twice a year.
The $100 vouchers for after-school activities – equalling $400 a year ($200 for Active Kids and $200 for Creative Kids) were facing the axe at the end of this month when funding expired but the Minns Government has instead trimmed the scheme.
However, sporting groups and dance operators feel the changes have not been thought through properly and will greatly impact on families already struggling with rises in mortgage rates, rent, food and power.
Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association (GDSFA) Operations Manager Rosanna Lentini says that in tough times, it’s the extra-curricular activities that go.
“It’s not good at all; the Government is supposed to be helping to get more children playing sport, learning to swim and doing their creative activities as a way to improve their mental and physical health,” she said.
“A lot of that good work might now be undone, it’s very disappointing.”
Berala Physie operator Karen White is shocked that the Government couldn’t find the money elsewhere to keep the full scheme going.
“It definitely works, sport participation is high and a lot of families depend on those vouchers because everything is so expensive and keeps getting more so,” she said.
“This plan to cut back the vouchers will have a hug impact on everyone; it’s a bad move.”
The new voucher for $50, issued twice a year, at the start of Terms 1 and 3, will cover activities available under both the Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher programs.
