Costs associated with children’s sport can be high. Photo: Supplied.
Independents for Canberra has pledged to introduce $200 Active Kids sport vouchers for families to encourage more kids to play sport and make it easier for them to pay for it, particularly those facing disadvantage.
The voucher scheme is part of its community sport policy, which includes establishing a dedicated peak body within the first six months of being elected.
Independents for Canberra candidate for Yerrabi David Pollard said that when he ran as an independent in 2020, Active Kids vouchers were one of his most popular policies.
“Unfortunately, the Labor-Greens government has not seen the value in supporting families to access community sport and failed to pick up the policy,” he said.
Independents for Canberra leader and candidate in Kurrajong Thomas Emerson said the ACT was the only jurisdiction that did not have sports vouchers.
“It’s time we helped families get their kids into a life of sport,” he said.
Independents for Canberra candidates are also committing to a detailed facilities audit, preparing and funding a 10-year strategic plan for the maintenance, improvement and expansion of facilities in partnership with the sport sector, and providing yearly updates on the delivery of that plan.
Independents for Canberra said Gungahlin, Belconnen, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong, Woden and central Canberra have already been identified as lacking any or adequate sports facilities.
Yearrabi IFC candidate David Pollard says grounds and facilities were not being maintained. Photo: IFC.
Mr Pollard said that without a recognised peak body for community sport, the burden had fallen to the Community Sport Alliance.
“We’re hearing that this government has become complacent, failing to support a range of community and professional sporting activities and facilities,” he said.
“In 2024, the Canberra United Women’s A-League Team was at serious risk of closure despite having produced numerous members of the Australian Matildas soccer team over its lifetime.
“It took a huge community-driven campaign to force the government to step in and provide a small amount of funding to save the club.”
Mr Pollard said the maintenance of grounds and facilities was also an issue.
“The Gungahlin Eagles consistently have 350-plus players using the ovals at Nicholls, including junior and senior players from under 7s up to open age grades. The oval is also used for cricket in the summer,” Mr Pollard said.
“The grounds were remediated recently after being blamed for multiple lower leg injuries, though its condition is still far from good enough.
“The women’s change room is a semi-repurposed storage shed, and the lone toilet is through the men’s change room and next to three urinals. The state of female facilities is detrimental to the game’s growth in the area. This is common across the ACT.”
Mr Emerson said people in every electorate were struggling to access sporting facilities and programs.
“I run a movement studio where every day I see the direct positive impact of movement on the physical, mental and emotional health of our community,” Mr Emerson said.
“We talk a lot about the mental health crisis, but we don’t do enough to support initiatives that address root causes. Bringing people together to connect and participate in physical activities is one of the most potent ways to boost mental wellbeing.”
Mr Emerson said an ACT Government survey in early 2023 revealed almost 100 sports facilities needed attention, but the community sport sector hadn’t heard anything from the government since.
“Sporting organisations are crying out for more support to promote the health and social cohesion of our communities,” Mr Emerson said.
“The government has gone missing when it comes to community sport, leaving passionate volunteers and part-time staff to pick up the slack. It’s no wonder facilities are left to stagnate.”
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