Children from Reception to Year 9 can receive the subsidy once each year. Currently the subsidy can be applied to the cost of sport, dance or learning to swim fees.

As many as 3,000 Scouts, Girl Guides and their families are expected to benefit from the program in 2024, with funding allocated to accommodate the expanded rollout.

The program was established in 2015 in an effort to ease the cost of sport on families to help get more kids active and further involved in community.

The 2022 program was the State Government’s most successful to date, with South Australian families saving more than $8.3 million.

Sport Vouchers have already saved families $5.4 million in the first half of 2023, with 53,886 vouchers redeemed from 891 providers.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Katrine Hildyard

Scouts and Girl Guides offer children a chance to get outdoors, be active and be connected with community. They include young people in communities across our state, giving many a sense of belonging and purpose.

For many families across the country, cost of living pressures can be a challenge. This initiative will help more South Australian families, ensuring they won’t need to make a decision that sees their child miss out on being active and spending important time with their peers.

The Scouts and Guides community have been calling for this expansion. I am so proud that we are listening and positively responding.

Quotes attributable to Sarah Andrews

I’ve worked closely with local organisations in my community and have advocated for the inclusion of Scouts and Guides in the sport voucher program.

This will allow children who may not be involved in organised sport to be supported in their chosen active recreation.

Quotes attributable to James Sellers, CEO Scouts SA

Scouts SA welcomes the announcement from the State Government in its adoption of Scouting into the Sport Vouchers Scheme. This exciting development will ease the financial burden on many of our existing Scouting community and allow our organisation to further develop our new youth program and infrastructure that surrounds it. Being part of the Sports Voucher Scheme also opens Scouting to new members who are keen to build real life skills and resilience to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Scouts SA prides itself on developing the skills, character, and leadership abilities of young people through outdoor activities, adventure, and community service across South Australia. Scouts SA thanks the South Australian Government, especially through Minister Hildyard for their support in ensuring Scouts remains the preeminent youth organisation in South Australian.

Quotes attributable to Tina Brown, State Commissioner Girl Guides SA

I would like to thank our State Government for hearing our voices in why we feel that we should be included in this program. I know that this will be a very welcomed resource for several of our families to be able to access and this will help to ease some of their financial pressure so that their daughters can engage in our program.

This is truly exciting, and I know will help out many families across our State for so many youth to be able to assist them in engaging with our organisation.