Budget help for disadvantaged school students

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Next Tuesday’s state budget will include $152.3 million to increase the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and $15 million to deliver the popular Get Active Kids Vouchers for another two years.

Currently, eligible primary school students receive $154 per year, while eligible secondary students receive $256 under the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

With an investment of $152.3 million, all payments will be increased to $400 from Term 1, 2026 – making sure that every student gets the chance to join camps, attend excursions and play on a team with their mates.

The money is expected to help around 200,000 kids from families with a Health Care or concession card every year.

Families with multiple children at the same school can pool their allocated funding to use on one child or for one specific activity – helping in situations where the costs for activities in a certain year level are higher than others.

More support for sports, activities and equipment

The budget also delivers the popular $200 Get Active Kids vouchers for another two years, helping more than 65,000 kids who need it.

These $200 vouchers cover the cost of memberships, registration fees, equipment and uniforms for sports and popular activities, and are available to families with a Health Care or concession card.

The program covers more than 70 sports and more than 2,100 activity providers across the state – making sure every child across Victoria has the chance to take part.

Since the program launched in 2020, almost 190,000 vouchers have been provided to families. More than half of families who received vouchers reported their kids would not have been able to participate without them. 22 per cent of recipients joined a local sporting club for the first time thanks to the vouchers.