Creative Kids voucher

The NSW Government is helping kids get creative with the new Creative Kids program.

Parents, guardians and carers can apply for a voucher with a value of up to $100 per calendar year for each student aged 4.5 to 18 years old enrolled in school.

The voucher may be used with a registered activity provider for registration, participation and tuition costs for creative arts, speech, drama, dance, digital design, coding, and music lessons and activities.

The voucher can be used at any time during the calendar year it was issued.

To use the voucher, give the details to your registered activity provider.

The program runs year-round, so kids can get creative at any time.

• a MyServiceNSW account (if you don’t have an account you can sign up after you select ‘Apply online’)
• your child's Medicare card details.

1. Check the eligibility requirements and the types of activities.
2. Select the 'Apply online' button.
3. Log in to your account, or sign up for a MyServiceNSW Account.
4. Follow the prompts to apply for the voucher.

To use the voucher:

1. Choose the eligible provider where you'll use the voucher.
2. At registration or payment time, provide the following information through the provider's preferred process:

• child's full name
• child's date of birth
• Creative Kids voucher number.

To learn more, view the How to apply for a Creative Kids voucher video.

If you’re a parent, carer or guardian, the student will be eligible if they are:

• a NSW resident
• aged between 4.5 and 18 years
• enrolled in school (from Kindergarten to Year 12, including those who are home-schooled or enrolled in secondary school education at TAFE NSW)
• a current Medicare card holder.

You can apply for a voucher for each eligible student.

You can use the voucher for registration, participation and tuition costs with approved Creative Kids providers.

Activity categories

Visual arts

• Drawing
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Sketching
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Advertising
• Public art
• Screen
• Media arts
• Design
• Multimedia
• Craft

Creative industries

• Architecture
• Coding
• Industrial design
• Game design
• Augmented/virtual reality
• Graphic design
• Fashion design
• Radio

Literary and linguistics arts

• Creative writing
• Languages
• Publishing
• Public speaking
• Poetry

Performing arts

• Music
• Drama
• Singing
• Circus arts
• Creative expression
• Choreography
• Synchronised swimming
• Parkour
• Theatre
• Dance

Eligible activities

Eligible activities are those that are provided as part of a structured program where there are clear skill development outcomes. Structured creative and cultural lessons are:

• Tutoring on a specific skill delivered in person or 'virtually' over 4 weeks or more. 'Virtually' includes tuition delivered by technology, such as Skype, with live interaction between the student and tutor/teacher.
• Time-bound set of lessons/activities to learn a skill, based on the following timeframes:
  • 4 weeks or more weekly classes, minimum of 30 minutes per week
  • weekend course, minimum of 2 days for 5 hours per day or total number of 8 hours or more
  • 1 week, minimum of 4 days within a 7-day period for 3 hours per day
  • 1 day, minimum of 5 hours.
• Cultural experience and master class such as a concert or performance followed by:
  • structured workshop for 1 to 4 hours, or
  • question time with a high-profile artist or performer, relating to skills and art form development.

All activities are to be delivered outside of the school curriculum. NSW public, private and Catholic schools are ineligible providers.

Ineligible activities

• skill-based classes or activities that are only run for half a day (less than 4 hours)
• one-off tutoring sessions
• mobile app subscriptions
• after-school care services where no structured program on a consistent topic is run
• membership that is not part of a structured program
• school excursions
• activities that are part of the school curriculum
• school-run competitions, concerts, drama programs, including weekend activities or inter-school competitions or activities.

Ineligible costs

• individual items such as clothing, uniforms, instruments, creative supplies (paints, books, canvas) or other equipment that would usually be purchased from a retailer and paid for by the individual as part of participating in the activity. Note: packages where these items are included within the course are eligible.
• examination fees for qualifications and assessment
• travel costs to and from activities, competitions or concerts (except where this is part of the overall package).

Vouchers can only be used:

• one time (if the chosen activity fees are less than $100, the remaining balance cannot be used)
• during the calendar year they’re issued
• for the person named on the voucher
• for registration or membership fees with approved Creative Kids providers.

Vouchers cannot be:

• split between more than one provider or registration
• used for individual items (like paints, instruments, uniforms, computers)
• redeemed for cash.