70,000 Creative Kids vouchers downloaded in first three weeks

Families have given the NSW Government’s new $100 Creative Kids vouchers a strong endorsement, with more than 70,000 vouchers downloaded since the program went live three weeks ago, with Western Sydney well represented. More than 830 providers have also registered with Service NSW.

Parents can use one voucher for every school-age child per year to help meet the cost of structured creative and cultural activities, such as music lessons, languages, coding, drama and theatre, photography and graphic design.

Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello joined Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith today at Randwick to release the figures.

"The figures speak for themselves – parents simply love the new voucher and have given it the thumbs up," Mr Dominello said.

"The voucher is helping to unlock the creative abilities of young people, with parents in Kellyville, Castle Hill, Liverpool and Camden among those who have claimed the most vouchers so far. Among registered providers, performing arts and visual arts groups are the most represented.

"This program has been made possible due to our strong economic management – we’ve slashed the debt, balanced the books and put the State back in pole position."

Mr Notley-Smith said: "Creative Kids complements the hugely popular Active Kids voucher, and that Creative and Active Kids vouchers combined will save a family with two children $400 a year."

"The new school year starts next week and this voucher will help parents plan for creative and cultural activities, which can really add to a household budget.

"It is critical that providers register with Service NSW, so that parents can claim their vouchers with them."

The following suburbs are among those that have downloaded the most vouchers:

Creative Kids is one of a raft of NSW Government initiatives helping to ease cost of living pressure for households. Others include cheaper Green Slips and refunds, free car registration for regular toll users and the FuelCheck app.