MORE than 10,000 children in the City of Wanneroo have had their sports participation fees subsidised thanks to a State Government program.
The Department of Sport and Recreation’s KidSport program helps eligible families pay for annual sporting club fees, contributing vouchers up to $200 for each child aged between five and 18.
Through its partnership with the department, the City is the first local government to have issued 10,000 vouchers since the program started in 2011.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWMORE: Parents says child sexual assault perpetrator’s presence at school “unacceptable”
MORE: Mark McGowan announces first ministry portfolios
MORE: Warnbro: prison sentence for driver responsible for October 2015 crash that left one dead
Mayor Tracey Roberts said it gave children an opportunity to get involved with local sporting clubs when they might not otherwise have been financially able to.
“Of the 10,000 vouchers allocated to families in the City of Wanneroo, almost 65 per cent were for children who had never been registered with a sporting club before, highlighting the importance of the KidSport program,” she said.
“Its popularity is further evidenced given that 37 vouchers were allocated to City of Wanneroo families in 2011 compared to 2800 vouchers in 2016.”
The vouchers have been used at more than 320 clubs, including 757 at Wanneroo Junior Football Club and 704 at Quinns Districts Junior Football Club.
For details, visit www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.