What extracurriculars actually cost South Aussie families – and the help that’s available
By Liv Williams Editor of educate, mum of 3 and reluctant CFO of 2 junior athletes and a budding musician
Ask any parent about the value of their child’s after-school activities and you’ll get an enthusiastic response. The swimming squad builds confidence. The drama class brings a shy kid out of their shell. Saturday morning footy gives them a sense of belonging no classroom can replicate. But ask those same parents what they’re actually spending – once you tally the registration fees, the club uniform, the equipment, the weekend travel and the end-of-season levies – and the enthusiasm tends to come with a wince.
According to a 2025 ING study, Australian parents are spending an average of $1,779 per child per year on extracurricular activities including sport, music and tutoring. Nationally, that adds up to more than $4.7 billion. And it’s climbing: nearly nine in 10 parents surveyed expected those costs to increase further, while 93% said they had already made personal sacrifices – including giving up their own hobbies – to keep their children enrolled.
That average figure of $1,779, of course, is just the start. It doesn’t capture the full picture for families juggling multiple children across multiple sports, or the hidden costs that tend to accumulate across a season. Registration and membership fees are usually the first line item, but they’re rarely the last.
Where the money goes
The cost of keeping a child in a single extracurricular activity for a year typically includes some combination of the following: seasonal or annual registration fees; club or association membership; uniforms, team gear and sport-specific footwear; equipment (think racquets, instruments, bows, dance shoes, shin pads); training and coaching fees on top of club registration; competition entry fees, carnival levies and grading costs; travel to away games, regional competitions or state championships (fuel, accommodation, meals); end-of-season presentation costs, trophies or volunteer levies; and insurance or first aid levies.
For a child in a single community sport, families might get away with $300–$600 a year in direct costs. But for competitive or representative-level sport, music tuition or activities that involve regular travel, the bill can run well into the thousands. Multiply that across two or three children, and the financial pressure becomes real.
The costs parents don’t always see coming
Some of the most stressful expenses are the ones families don’t budget for at the start of the year. A child who makes a representative team might face additional selection fees, new uniforms, interstate travel and accommodation at short notice. Equipment breaks or is outgrown mid-season. Clubs increase fees after registration has closed. For metro families, a weekend carnival in a regional area can mean a full tank of fuel, a night in a motel and three meals out. For families already based in regional South Australia, the travel burden is even greater; some are driving hours each way just for weekly training, let alone competition.
And then there’s the less visible cost: time. Research from Real Insurance found that parents of children in sport and extracurricular activities spend an average of 11.1 hours per week on those commitments – driving, watching, washing uniforms, coordinating logistics. That’s time away from work, from other children, from rest.
The SA Sports Voucher: what it covers and how to use it
South Australian families do have help available, and it’s worth knowing exactly how the system works. The SA Government’s Sports Vouchers Plus program provides two $100 vouchers per child per calendar year – a total of $200 – to help cover the cost of sport, active recreation and music fees. It’s available to all South Australian children from Reception to Year 9.
The vouchers can be used with any registered provider, and both vouchers can be used with the same provider if you choose. They’re applied to participation and tuition fees only – not equipment or instrument purchases.
How to use the SA Sports Voucher
- Check your child is eligible: they must be in Reception to Year 9 and living in South Australia (born between 2011 and 2021 inclusive for 2026 vouchers)
- Visit sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au and use the ‘Find a Provider’ tool to locate a registered club or organisation near you
- Let the provider know you’d like to use your voucher when you register your child
- Provide your child’s details to the provider, including their 11-digit Medicare number (you can do this via the downloadable voucher form, the provider’s own online registration system, or an online form the provider has set up)
- The provider reduces their fees by up to $100 per voucher – you pay the remaining balance
- You can use both vouchers (totalling $200) with the same provider if you choose
- Some providers discount upfront at the time of registration; others require you to pay in full and reimburse you once they’ve received the funds from the program
- Vouchers cover participation and tuition fees only – not equipment or instrument purchases
- There is no income test and no application to submit to government
- To check whether your child’s vouchers have already been used this year, use the Medicare search tool on the Sports Vouchers homepage
Did you know? The Sports Voucher program now covers music lessons. The Sports Vouchers program has been expanded to include Scouts, Girl Guides and music lessons, so it’s not just sport. Families with kids in instrumental tuition, choir programs or band can use the vouchers too.
Tips for managing the budget
For families feeling the squeeze, a few practical strategies can help. Ask the club directly about payment plans, sibling discounts or hardship provisions – many have them, but don’t advertise them. Check whether your child’s school offers subsidised extracurricular programs that might scratch the same itch at lower cost. Look into council-run programs, which tend to be more affordable than private providers. Buy second-hand equipment and uniforms where possible – club Facebook groups are often a good source. And budget for the full year at the start, including the costs you don’t see on the registration form: travel, uniforms, end-of-season extras.
Extracurricular activities matter. The research is clear on that, and most parents don’t need convincing. But the financial load is real, it’s growing, and it falls unevenly. Knowing what help is available – and planning for the costs that aren’t on the brochure – can make the difference between a child staying in an activity they love and a family having to pull them out mid-season.
For more information on the Sports Vouchers Plus program: sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au
Representing your state? Your council might help Some local councils offer small grants for young athletes and performers who’ve been selected to represent South Australia at state or national level. Often called Local Heroes grants or similar, these can help cover travel, accommodation and competition costs – expenses that add up fast when a child is competing interstate.
Eligibility and amounts vary by council, and application rounds can open and close quickly, so it’s worth checking your local council’s website or calling their community development team early. These grants aren’t always well publicised, so don’t assume they don’t exist just because you haven’t heard of them. Ask the question.