‘Burning down the house’: Backlash to Creative Kids voucher crackdown | LindaMorrissmh
The Perrottet government has cracked down on its $100 voucher scheme for children’s music, arts, drama and dance classes amid opposition claims that the program’s budget has been raided to fund other government priorities.
To date, NSW parents have redeemed 1.5 million Creative Kids vouchers worth $150 million since then-treasurer Dominic Perrottet launched the scheme in 2018 with a budget of more than $200 million. Closely modelled on the Active Kids program of sports vouchers, under Creative Kids parents can redeem $100 every calendar year to offset the cost of cultural activities for children up to 18 years.
On March 1, all programs that included the purchase of materials or supplies, including paints, books, stationery, canvases, clothing, uniforms, leotards and musical instruments, were disallowed. “As with any initiative, Creative Kids is an evolving program that is regularly reviewed by the NSW government to ensure it is fit for purpose to provide robust outcomes for children, young people and their families,” Franklin said. Businesses had to expect changes with COVID-19.De Zwaan signed up as a Creative Kids provider in 2020 after COVID shut down her store, A Little Spirit.
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