Active Kids FAQs: Parents, guardians and carers

How do I apply for a voucher and what information is required?

You can apply for an Active Kids voucher through the MyService NSW Account. To do this, you'll need to log into or create an Account and select the ‘Active Kids’ icon under Services.

When creating a MyService NSW Account, you'll be asked to provide your contact details including a mobile number and email address.

As part of the Active Kids voucher application you'll need to provide your child’s name, date of birth and Medicare number. There are also some questions to gather basic information about your child’s current activities and height and weight. Responding to these questions is optional.

You can apply for a voucher for each child. Each voucher can only be used for the child that is displayed on the voucher, and vouchers cannot be combined.

Each child must be school-enrolled, home-schooled or enrolled in secondary school education at TAFE NSW or equivalent at the time of application.

Note: You can also apply for an Active Kids voucher through the Service NSW app.

What if my child exists on two Medicare cards?

If your child exists on more than one Medicare card, use the card that Medicare issued to you for your child.

How will I receive the Active Kids voucher?

If your application is approved, a voucher will be displayed at the end of the transaction and emailed to the nominated email address for your MyService NSW Account. The voucher displays the student/child's name, voucher number, expiry date and value of the voucher.

If you need to access the voucher information after the transaction is complete, you can do this through your MyService NSW Account. There is no requirement to print your voucher. Approved activity providers or sports clubs only need the voucher number and expiry date when processing your registration.

You'll be able to see the status of your child's voucher in your MyServiceNSW Account. The voucher will show as either 'Available' if you haven’t yet used it, or 'Redeemed' after your provider has applied for the discount and been reimbursed by Service NSW.

How do I apply for a voucher if there is no internet access or I don’t have a mobile number or email address?

You can visit a Service NSW service centre and a digital representative can help you set up an email address (if required) and assist you in creating your MyServiceNSW Account before applying for the voucher.

How do I change the height/weight details for my child in the voucher application?

Unfortunately, we cannot change your child's height/weight once the application has been submitted.

How do I use my Active Kids voucher?

Your voucher information needs to be given to your chosen Active Kids sports or activity provider at the time of registering your child. This can be done either face to face, or when using online registration. The provider will discount your fee by up to the total value of the voucher, and they will be reimbursed by Service NSW for the amount of the voucher used. The sport or activity provider must be approved by the Active Kids program in order to accept your voucher.

The voucher can be used for:

• registration fees
• membership fees
• participation fees
• swimming lesson fees.

The voucher cannot be used for individual items such as jerseys, socks, boots, clothing or equipment that would usually be purchased from a retailer and paid for by the individual, as part of participating in the activity, and separate to any membership or registration fees charged by the provider.

Travel to and from competitions is also excluded from eligible costs.

If the activity you have chosen is less than the total value of the voucher you cannot redeem the balance of the voucher.

Expired vouchers will not be accepted.

Can I use my voucher at my child's dance studio?

Yes, if your child’s dance studio is an approved Active Kids provider. All providers must apply for registration and must meet certain criteria to be a part of the program. If the dance studio is not an approved provider, the voucher cannot be redeemed.

Are vouchers valid for learn to swim lessons?

Yes, vouchers can be used for learn to swim lessons. The providers must meet the eligibility criteria, be registered and approved with the Active Kids program to be able to accept vouchers.

I registered online using my voucher, how do I know it's been paid?

The online registration should have provided you with a receipt, identifying the value from the voucher that was applied.

If this didn't occur, you will need to speak to your sporting organisation. If it did show the voucher was applied, then the sporting club will receive the value of the voucher that was discounted from your registration fee.

How do I cancel my child’s registration?

If you want to cancel your child’s registration, you must discuss membership cancellation with the club directly.

The voucher value cannot be reimbursed as cash, nor can it be transferred to another child. The voucher cannot be refunded back to you.

Who is eligible for an Active Kids voucher?

The child must

• be aged 4.5 to 18 years
• have a current Medicare card and
• be enrolled in school from Kindergarten to Year 12 including home-schooling or secondary school education at TAFE NSW.

One voucher is available for every eligible child and there are no limits on the number of applications per family, as long as each child is enrolled in school and has a valid Medicare card.

What if my child doesn't currently have a Medicare card?

To be eligible for the program, your child must be listed on a current Medicare card in order for their name and age to be validated.

If your child is not included on a current Medicare card, yet is eligible, please contact Medicare to apply for one.

What if my child turns 19 during the season?

If the eligible applicant is 18 and enrolled in school at the time of registration, they can redeem the voucher for that season. A student can claim a voucher up until the day before they turn 19 years old.

My child has swimming lessons and is 4 years old, can I claim a voucher?

A child aged 4.5 to 18 years old, enrolled in school from Kindergarten to Year 12, and is residing in NSW will be eligible for a voucher. Pre-school children are not part of this program.

Are children on bridging visas and asylum seekers eligible for a voucher?

If the child resides in NSW, is school-enrolled and is a holder or listed on a valid Medicare card, they are eligible to claim a voucher.

I live in a border town, can we claim a voucher?

Only children who reside in NSW are eligible to access vouchers. Vouchers can be redeemed with any approved provider.

My child boards at school in NSW but we live in Victoria, is my child eligible?

Yes, if your child is school enrolled and is a full time boarder at a NSW school, they can claim a voucher, as the school is their residential address.

How do I find an approved provider?

You can search for approved providers on our website under Find an Active Kids provider.

Approved providers will include clubs affiliated with State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and active recreation organisations operating in NSW.

Why is my sports club declining my voucher?

A provider cannot accept the voucher if they are not registered and approved for the Active Kids program.

If the provider's membership is at capacity or they are not able to field a team due to insufficient numbers, the provider has the discretion to not accept the vouchers. Should an approved provider accept a voucher for registration, however not field a team, the voucher must be returned to the parent as long as no payment request was made by the provider to Service NSW.

Can a provider increase prices or fees?

Providers cannot raise their fees as a result of their registration in the Active Kids program nor can they apply differential pricing for voucher holders vs non-voucher holders.

Generally speaking, if a fee increase isn't warranted in the absence of a voucher program, then it would be deemed unreasonable.

Providers may be audited at any time by the Active Kids team, including review of fee increases.

If a fee increase is deemed unreasonable by Active Kids, providers may be suspended or removed from the program.

The cost of activity is less than the full value of the voucher. Can the provider claim the full amount?

No, when the fee is less than the full value of the voucher, the provider is paid the lesser value and recipient cannot use the remaining balance to pay another provider for an activity.

I'd like to apply for my Active Kids information, how do I do this?

Contact the Active Kids team on 13 77 88 or email activekids@sport.nsw.gov.au

Why do I need to provide my child's health information?

The NSW Government has created Active Kids to support the increase in physical activity for school enrolled children in NSW. The program also aims to reduce the instance of childhood obesity which is a Premier's priority.

As part of measuring the success of the program, the Office of Sport has some short surveys to gather information about the program.

Unless consent is received, Office of Sport will not contact any parent/carer or guardian.

I get an error message when I enter my child's Medicare card details in the voucher application, what do I do?

If you are receiving an error message, check the following:

• Your child's name is entered exactly as it appears on the medicare card.
• All 10 digits of the Medicare number are entered.
• Your child's date of birth details are correct with Medicare.

If your Medicare card is expiring in the next 2 months, contact Medicare to obtain the current details to enter on your application.

My child's school is not listed in the voucher application, what do I do?

If you cannot locate your school listed in the Active Kids voucher application, click on 'i cant find my school' twice. Type in your child's school name and enter the suburb of your residential address. This will allow you to continue with your application.