NSW budget includes $100 voucher for swimming lessons for children aged three to six

Announced this afternoon, the NSW budget has included a provision for a $100 voucher for swimming lessons being made available to every pre-school child aged three to six in the state.

Revealed as part of NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s 2021/22 budget, the $44 million program aims to help make children safer around water under measures announced in the 2021-22 NSW Budget.

Introducing the funding, which follows the success of the NSW Government’s Active Kids voucher program, Treasurer Perrottet stated “every parent should enjoy the peace of mind their child will be safe in and around the water (and this) new voucher program will help to achieve this.

“Ultimately this is the type of support that will not only save people money, it could help save lives.”

NSW Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said it is critical children have basic swimming and water safety skills, adding “families across NSW will be able to use these vouchers when they enrol their children in swimming lessons, helping to ensure every NSW child has access to quality swimming and water safety education before they start school.”

Similar to the Active Kids program, which Treasurer Perrottet said had “seen NSW families save more than $320 million on sport registration fees since its inception”, vouchers will be redeemed at registered providers.

The program adds to the more than 130 NSW Government rebates, concessions and other measures available to help families with the cost of living.

Sport and Active Recreation
The NSW budget has also allocated $200 million for new and upgraded community sports facilities, including building female changes rooms in existing sports fields.

The two-year Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund program will offer funding through a competitive grants process which will require a minimum co-contribution from applicants with $100 million available in 2021/22 and $100 million available in 2022/23.

The NSW budget also includes the previously announced $150 million sporting Centres of Excellence Program, delivering a total of $450 million in additional funding over four years in the sport and active recreation sector.

Major Venues
Despite extensive recent media speculation, the NSW budget contained no announcements for funding of major stadiums across Sydney.

Reports have suggested that funds that were to be spent on the upgrade of Stadium Australia were to be rallocated to suburban grounds with $200 million set for the Penrith Panthers Stadium.

Other venues understood to be vying for funds include the Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, NetStrata Jubilee Oval in Kogarah and Brookvale Oval along with a new stadium in Liverpool.

However, $6.7 million has been allocated towards a business case for the redevelopment of Newcastle’s Hunter sports precinct.

More information on announcements from the NSW budget will follow tomorrow.