The Victorian Government has announced increased funding in the 2025/26 Budget to support families experiencing cost-of-living pressures, with a focus on helping children participate in school activities and organised sport.
A total of $152.3 million has been allocated to expand the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), and $15 million will extend the Get Active Kids Voucher Program for an additional two years.
These measures are part of the Victorian Government’s broader cost-of-living strategy and aim to reduce financial barriers that may prevent children from fully participating in school and community life. Advocates for the programs argue that access to extra-curricular activities contributes to student engagement, social development, and physical and mental health.
The initiatives target low-income households and align with existing education equity and community sport participation goals. Critics of targeted funding programs sometimes argue they are short-term solutions to broader issues of affordability and cost pressures across the education and sport sectors, but supporters point to measurable outcomes in participation and community engagement.
Under the changes, CSEF payments will increase from the current annual rates of $154 for eligible primary school students and $256 for secondary students to a flat rate of $400 per student, beginning in Term 1, 2026.
The CSEF provides financial support to families with a valid Health Care Card or concession card to help cover the costs of educational activities such as school camps, excursions, and sports programs. Approximately 200,000 students receive support from the fund each year, with more than 2 million students assisted since the program’s launch in 2015.
Families with multiple eligible children can pool their allocations to assist with more costly activities such as camps that are concentrated in specific year levels.
The Get Active Kids Voucher Program, which began in 2020, will continue for another two years. It provides $200 vouchers to eligible families to help cover the cost of registration fees, uniforms, and equipment for more than 70 sports and physical activities across over 2,100 providers statewide.
Since its launch, nearly 190,000 vouchers have been distributed. Program evaluations indicate that more than half of participating families would not otherwise have been able to afford sports participation for their children, and around 22 per cent of recipients joined a sports club for the first time with the help of a voucher.
The program is also designed to support community-level sports clubs by increasing participation and helping them attract new members.
This article is based on a media release from the office of State Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas.
