South Australian families have claimed one million Sports Vouchers since the scheme was introduced, delivering more than $88 million in cost-of-living relief and helping kids stay active, confident and connected.
Sports and Recreation Minister Rhiannon Pearce today joined junior gymnasts at 22Too Gymnastics to celebrate the milestone. Gymnastics is now the second largest sport for girls under the age of 14 and the Malinauskas Government has committed $100 million for a permanent home for the popular sport.
Launched by the Labor Government in 2015 as a single $50 voucher for children in Reception to Year 7, the program has grown into one of the state's most successful participation initiatives.
Today, children from Reception to Year 9 can access two $100 vouchers each year to help cover the cost of sport, dance, swimming lessons, Scouts and Guides, active recreation and music.
From next year, 16–18-year-olds will become eligible for the scheme, providing more opportunities for young people to get active and connected with the community.
Over the past decade, families have used Sports Vouchers with 2,525 providers, supporting more than 410,000 children and young people to get involved in activities that keep them moving, learning and engaged away from screens.
The most popular activities accessed through this initiative since its inception are:
- Australian Rules football – 243,713 vouchers
- Football/soccer – 143,849 vouchers
- Netball – 121,828 vouchers
- Swimming – 109,531 vouchers
- Dance – 74,660 vouchers
The program is delivering strong benefits across both regional and metropolitan communities, with the highest number of vouchers recorded in:
- Mount Gambier – 16,231 vouchers
- Mount Barker – 13,036 vouchers
- Port Lincoln – 11,876 vouchers
- Morphett Vale – 11,063 vouchers
- Paralowie – 8,736 vouchers
The Sports Vouchers initiative will expand again from 1 January 2027, with two $100 vouchers to become available for all South Australian children and young people aged 5 to 18 years old.
Families can claim their vouchers at www.sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au
As put by Rhiannon Pearce
Reaching one million claimed Sports Vouchers is an extraordinary achievement and shows just how valuable this program has become for families right across South Australia.
This initiative helps to remove cost barriers so more children and young people can get involved in the activities they love, whether that's playing sport, learning to swim, dancing, joining Scouts/Guides or exploring music.
Importantly, the program is helping kids stay active, build confidence, make friendships and spend more time participating in their communities.
Playing a sport, or an instrument, or joining a local scout group also helps children and young people to socialise and build friendships and develop bonds with their peers.
As put by Glenda Green, 22Too CEO
Gymnastics is one of the best foundation sports for children because it develops strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, agility and body awareness from an early age.
22Too Gymnastics is all about creating a supportive, inclusive, and nurturing environment where everyone feels encouraged to explore, grow, and develop at their own pace. We offer programs for children 6 months to 100 years old.
We've noticed a huge increase in families using the government sports vouchers, and it's been fantastic to see more children getting involved in our programs.
Increasing the age to 18 years is especially exciting for our strongkidz program as more families can access support to help their children build strength, confidence and coordination.
The expanded age range means more young people can continue participating in programs that support both their physical development and overall wellbeing, which is exactly what our gymnastics and strongkidz programs are all about.
