Play On Vouchers To Help Mackay Children Saddle Up For Sport

Play On! Sports Vouchers are helping Mackay and Whitsunday children overcome cost barriers, get active and discover the benefits of sport, with the next round opening July 27^th. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara  

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Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton visited Mackay Pony Club on Monday 20^th July, to highlight the upcoming second round of the Queensland Government’s Play On vouchers, which provide financial support to help children aged five to 17 participate in sport and recreational activities.

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The $200 vouchers can help families cover costs such as registration and membership fees, uniforms, equipment and personal sporting gear. According to Mr Dalton, more than 9,300 children across the Mackay and Whitsunday region have already benefited from the program, with the next round opening on Monday, 27^th July.

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The initiative aims to make sport more accessible for families facing rising costs, while encouraging children to step away from screens, get active, socialise and build friendships.

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“It’s a really great opportunity,” Mr Dalton said, encouraging parents to get involved in the next round as soon as possible.

He said the program could help children access a wide range of activities, from pony club and golf to cadets and football.

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“We want to be able to give every child as much support as possible – especially in sport - because we know how beneficial it can be,” he said.

Play On! Sports Vouchers have also made an impact across Queensland, with more than 293,800 children supported through the program in its first year. More than 3,750 sporting clubs across the state now accept the vouchers, with almost 2,500 also offering disability programs.

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Soccer, rugby league and netball were the most popular sports among participating children, while 13,917 vouchers were provided to children and young people with a disability, representing a 33 per cent increase compared with the previous voucher program. Girls also accounted for 129,050 vouchers, which has seen an increase of 30 per cent.

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For Mackay Pony Club Chief Instructor Tracey Camilleri, the vouchers can make a significant difference, particularly for families with more than one child involved in sport.

“Sometimes it can be the difference between kids participating or not,” she said.

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Ms Camilleri said equestrian sport provides children with lessons in responsibility, as caring for a horse requires daily commitment and care.

“There’s a deeper level of responsibility when kids are looking after an animal, and from what we’ve seen – that connection to the horse – can be really great for them,” she said.

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She said the benefits extended beyond competition, with children able to enjoy the outdoors, develop partnerships with their horses and find an outlet from the pressures of school and everyday life.

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Ms Camilleri, who has been passionate about horse-riding since she was a young girl, said:

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“Just being out in the fresh air, and dealing with an animal and getting a great response to learning how to build a partnership is something quite special.”

The vouchers can also help young riders progress further, allowing families to put funding towards coaching, equipment and competition opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.

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“Without these vouchers, some parents are sort of limited to how much they can do for their child in a sport, especially amongst the cost-of-living pressures,” Ms Camilleri said.

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For families interested in taking advantage of the next round, Play On vouchers offer an opportunity to help children get involved, stay active and discover a sport they can enjoy and grow with.

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