- Crisafulli Government delivers $1500 funding boost for extracurricular activities to help kids in Child Safety
- Delivers on key 100 Day Plan commitment, with funding to go towards activities such as sport, art, recreation, and culture
- Announcement forms part of the plan to fix Labor's underfunded and broken Child Safety system
The Crisafulli Government has announced a $1500 funding boost for children and young people in the Child Safety system to provide better access to extracurricular activities.
From July 1, 2025, every child and young person who is living in a care arrangement will be eligible to receive the funding to support participation in activities including sport, art, recreation, music, and culture.
The funding delivers on a key priority of the Crisafulli Government's 100 Day Plan and forms part of the broader blueprint to drastically improve the lives on children in care.
Payments will be made in two yearly instalments - on 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026 - with guidelines for what the payments can be used for including (but are not limited to):
- Outside school tutoring
- Activities relating to art, sport, recreation, music, culture, and citizenship
- On-country programs and camps
- Participation in clubs
- Swimming lessons, playgroups, and sensory and development classes
- Club memberships, enrolments, equipment or other resources children and young people may need to participate in activities
Unlike the previous Labor Government – who left a $461 million funding blackhole and planned to sack 91 frontline staff at Christmas – the Crisafulli Government is committed to delivering measurable outcomes for Queensland's most vulnerable children.
The $383 million Safer Children, Safer Communities plan will repair Labor's broken Child Safety system by developing a new 24-hour dual care supervision model, delivering a 20% boost to the number of child safety officers and better support for children in care.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm said it was a priority to provide proper care for kids in child safety, after the former Labor Government left the system broken.
"Every Queensland child deserves a fair go regardless of their background, and this funding goes towards ensuring that happens," Minister Camm said.
"It may be tutoring for the new school year to maintain or improve academic grades or interests away from the classroom such as sport, dance and music classes, or clubs like scouts and girl guides, to build confidence and resilience.
"We know that under the former Labor government funding arrangements for our most vulnerable young people were forgotten, but we are determined to right their wrongs."
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the youth charity was in support of any initiative increasing access to extra-curricular activities.
"As an organisation dedicated to young people, we welcome this news, as we welcome anything which ensures all young people, regardless of their circumstance, can access sport or other extra-curricular activities and all the benefits they bring," Mr Schultz said.
"We know that early interaction with sport and recreation has multiple benefits to the mental and physical health of young people.
"PCYC Queensland offers a range of activities to young people, from boxing and gymnastics to Little n Active, a fundamental movement program for under-5s which teaches physical literacy, problem solving and social skills, as well as providing children with the chance to have fun and play, which is of course extremely important.
"This announcement certainly aligns with the PCYC Queensland mission of building healthier communities through youth development."
