This year even more families will be able to access the sports vouchers with the program expanding to include Scouts and Girl Guides for the first time.

Now in its tenth year, the initiative has seen nearly 600,000 vouchers redeemed and provided more than $48 million towards helping South Australian children participate in sport and active recreation.

Families with children engaging in active recreation through Scouts and Girl Guides are now for the first time able to participate in the program, with changes coming into effect 1 January 2024.

The program is open to all school aged children up to Year 9, and in recent years has also been expanded to include learn to swim and dance. Those eligible can use one $100 voucher in a calendar year.

A record 88,749* vouchers were used in 2023 across 1,253 providers.

The most popular sports for the program in 2023 were Australian Rules (20,326), football (soccer) (13,169), netball (10,111), swimming (9,717) and gymnastics (6,791).

For more information on how to redeem a Sports Voucher in 2024 visit: sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au

*2023 providers have until 8 January 2024 to submit any 2023 Sports Vouchers they may hold.

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

The Sports Vouchers program empowers young people to be active and involved in sport, providing an opportunity to experience the sense of belonging that sport brings and improve their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. The program builds stronger, more connected communities, and helps relieve cost-of-living pressures for families.

The more that we can help kids get active the better. We know that sporting and community clubs are at the heart of communities across our state. This program is a shining example of families being enabled to engage with those clubs, helping them to experience the many benefits of being involved.

This year, for the first time, we are proud that Scouts and Guides can engage with the program, meaning even more families can have their young ones included in these positive environments.

Having record breaking numbers of young people accessing sports vouchers means more kids and their families engaged in sport, physical activities, and community life. This makes such a positive difference in their wellbeing and in the wellbeing of our whole community.

Quotes attributable to Member for Davenport Erin Thompson

Our southern clubs are bursting at the seams with kids wanting to embrace sport. And that’s partly thanks to the state government’s $100 sports vouchers making it more affordable for families.

The extension to include scouts and guides has been particularly welcomed by the Flagstaff Hill Scouts who advocated strongly for this change.