Cost of children’s sport rises in Australia as voucher programs fail to budge participation
Parents of young cricketers, footballers and basketball players are now paying more than $500 a year on average for their children to play, plus more on equipment, according to a national survey highlighting Australia’s most expensive codes, as state governments pledge hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure sport is not just for the wealthy.But new research from the University of Sydney has found subsidising families’ sporting costs through the use of government vouchers alone is not enough, after two prominent recent examples – including a high-profile New South Wales scheme – failed to increase sport participation at scale.This evidence comes as the Queensland government expands its voucher scheme, now costing taxpayers $62.5m a year, and similar programs have been in place in every state.At the same time, the increasing price of children’s sport has been highlighted by cost breakdowns in the government’s AusPlay survey, released again in 2025 after a year’s break due to a change in methodology.
It shows several popular sports including gymnastics, tennis, swimming, cricket, athletics, basketball and football cost parents more than $500 a year on average in registration, membership and venue access, and excluding outlays required for uniforms, bats, rackets, boots and balls.Only gymnastics showed any decrease from the last time AusPlay data was released in 2023, highlighting a trend of escalating costs going back years.Rochelle Eime, professor in sports science at Federation University, said there has been a longstanding association between participation and socioeconomic status, and a voucher worth $100 or $200 a year is insufficient for many families.“$150, $200, it doesn’t really cut through does it, when you’re trying to pay the rent and keep the lights on, put food on the table – something’s got to give,” she said.Eime said sports need to try to offer alternatives, and move from formal, organised and often expensive settings to a more “person-centred” approach focused on enjoyment and retention.
“We get very busy organising things, and sport prioritises grading and talent development and trying to fit into structures and stuff like that,” she said.“The majority of kids just want to have fun and play with their friends, and if they’re enjoying themselves, they’ll come back.”Sign up to Australia SportGet a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports deskafter newsletter promotionThe average cost for a football player was $334 in 2016, rising to $459 in 2022 before the latest figure of $513 covering the survey period across 2023 and 2024.Basketball’s average outlay rose from $414 to $551 between the latest two reports.The University of Sydney research revealed the Active Kids voucher program in NSW failed to deliver the kind of broad society-level increases in physical activity and weekly sport participation had aimed for.
Between 2018 and 2022, when the program offered $100 vouchers, physical activity fell and weekly sport participation was found to have dropped significantly, from 70.3% to 53.6%.Dr Lindsey Reece, who is one of the study’s authors and also the Australian Sport Commission’s sport programs director, posted on LinkedIn this month saying: “Covid-19 certainly played a role – but even outside of pandemic years, the expected boost in activity did not materialise across the population.”The key takeaway she posited was that while financial support matters, vouchers alone “are not enough to shift the dial on children’s physical activity at scale” and future programs “must incorporate targeted, evidence-based behaviour change strategies and address inequities in access and participation”.
The report suggests media campaigns and partnerships with community leaders and organisations should be considered in future to encourage further uptake in targeted children and adolescents.The government’s decision to make the Active Kids program means-tested in 2024, “may contribute to closing the socioeconomic gap in physical activity and this adapted program should be evaluated”, the report said.Those who spoke a primary language other than English at home, were aged 15 to 18 years old, lived in the most disadvantaged areas, and were girls were less likely to sign up for sport.Rising costs are a major concern for officials within the Australian Sports Commission who have commissioned a separate report into the impacts of the high cost of participating in sport, due to be released in coming months.
Royal Ascot 2025: Trawlerman nets biggest prize with Gold Cup triumph – as it happened
That’s it for the third day and what a brave and brilliant performance from Trawlerman in the Gold Cup. I’m out of here. I need to sort my outfit for tomorrow’s trip to the races. Don’t worry I’ll be working hard – inbetween sips of champagne – and bringing you surprise guests and lots of reminiscences on Saturday when I’ll see you back here. Good luck one and all tomorrow
Kicking off Lions tour against Argentina in Ireland is profitable for everyone
This is about the game time and the cash. In the first place, Andy Farrell has 38 players he needs to use in the first three games of the British and Irish Lions tour and the first instalment will be before a less than capacity crowd at the Aviva Stadium against Argentina on Friday night. In the second place, it is about filling the coffers of the Lions machine and the four home unions who are part of the caravan.Gate receipts from this game will yield in the region of €3m (£2.55m) after costs, which goes towards the Lions’ bottom line, with a dividend to come to the unions involved
Kirsty Coventry to swerve palaces and focus on responsibility as first female IOC president
Kirsty Coventry has promised to not let power go to her head when she becomes the first female president of the International Olympic Committee next week.Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, would always stay in a suite paid for by the IOC at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel, costing about £2,000 a night, whenever he was in the city. However, the Zimbabwean confirmed her family would not be following suit.“We won’t be staying in the Palace,” she said. “I really want my kids to grow up doing the same thing that I did, making beds and doing our chores and being kids
Wallabies squad thin on playmakers may come back to bite Joe Schmidt
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt named his 36-man squad to face Fiji and the British & Irish Lions, recalling the enigmatic Will Skelton from La Rochelle, rewarding the uncapped Nick Champion de Crespigny’s rousing form for Castres Olympique, and bringing giant lock Darcy Swain in from the cold.Former star prop Taniela Tupou had wondered publicly if he’d forgotten how to play the game but Schmidt believes he can rekindle his glory days. Perth-born Carlo Tizzano is in having led Super Rugby try-scoring and tackle counts all year. And Sevens bolter Corey Toole, who scored twice in the Brumbies’ semi-final loss, looks set for a Test debut with Queensland’s Tim Ryan missing out.With half-a-million fans set to attend nine sold-out games on this ninth Lions tour, Schmidt knows 2025 must be a gamechanger for Rugby Australia
Cost of children’s sport rises in Australia as voucher programs fail to budge participation
Parents of young cricketers, footballers and basketball players are now paying more than $500 a year on average for their children to play, plus more on equipment, according to a national survey highlighting Australia’s most expensive codes, as state governments pledge hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure sport is not just for the wealthy.But new research from the University of Sydney has found subsidising families’ sporting costs through the use of government vouchers alone is not enough, after two prominent recent examples – including a high-profile New South Wales scheme – failed to increase sport participation at scale.This evidence comes as the Queensland government expands its voucher scheme, now costing taxpayers $62.5m a year, and similar programs have been in place in every state.At the same time, the increasing price of children’s sport has been highlighted by cost breakdowns in the government’s AusPlay survey, released again in 2025 after a year’s break due to a change in methodology
England are right to stick with a settled top six – Bethell should follow the Lara model | Mark Ramprakash
There always seems to be one man under pressure in England’s batting lineup. The consensus over the winter seemed to be that Jacob Bethell’s emergence had put Ollie Pope’s place at risk. Pope has clung on for the start of the India series and Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should be very careful before they mess with what is probably the most settled top six of any Test side.There was speculation about Pope and Zak Crawley before they scored centuries in last month’s game against Zimbabwe, but that performance should have secured their spots for this series at least.Bethell is a huge talent and some really top cricketers have spoken very highly about his performances and potential – clearly his time will come
UK consumer confidence up but fragile amid tariff and Middle East concerns
UK manufacturing set for a funding boost to reduce energy costs
Rough ride: how Uber quietly took more of your fare with its algorithm change
Trump signs order granting TikTok a third reprieve from US ban
England and India face red-hot series opener and Jasprit Bumrah conundrum
Carlos Alcaraz beats the heat in epic comeback against Munar at Queen’s Club