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Unkindest cut of all; for our Active Kids and local sports By GINNI BROWN WE all want to see our kids enjoying outdoor sports and creative activities — with recent changes to the NSW Government’s Active Kids, Creative Kids, and First Lap vouchers — not great news in that regard. Recently-announced “reforms” to the Active Kids program, will see it cut from the previous system where all school-aged children received two $100 vouchers per year; to a means-tested scheme, that will only provide $50 twice a year, to eligible families. Cuts are also being made to both Creative Kids and First Lap programs for art, dance, drama, and early childhood swimming lessons. The reductions have caused some concern to junior sporting clubs in Narromine, with the widespread popularity of the vouchers seen as encouraging local participation in a number of activities. The Narromine Junior Jets rugby league, as well as junior cricket, netball, soccer clubs, and the Macquarie Yabbies Swimming Club, all estimate that at least 90 per cent of their members, utilise the vouchers to offset annual registration fees. State Member for Dubbo and National Party Leader, Dugald Saunders, has condemned the Government’s decision, pointing-out that: “household budg-
Facing the unkindest cut of all, local sport club representatives are concerned that reductions to the State’s “Active Kids” vouchers will decrease participation in sport. Pictured from left, Krista Morrisey (netball), Sara McGilchrist (soccer), Tim Roberts (rugby league) and Greg Kerr (cricket). PHOTO: NARROMINE STAR.
ets are already under significant pressure”. Narromine Soccer Club Treasurer, Sara McGilchrist, agreed, saying that reducing the amount and number of families who can utilise the
vouchers, will: “put a massive amount of pressure on sporting clubs”. The challenge will now be for all clubs to subsidise their registration fees going forward. Local soccer registra-
tions increased by 40 participants year-on-year in 2023 to 113 participants, and many families openly say that they can only participate, due to the vouchers with 95 per cent using them.
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The Narromine Junior Jets are the largest junior sports club in Narromine, and say that 235 participants have used the vouchers this year. Continued page 2