The proposal is aimed at assisting in the fight against childhood obesity.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics around one in four (27.4%) children aged 5-17 years are overweight or obese, comprised of 20.2% overweight and 7.4% obese.

This figures translates to even more concerning numbers in adults.

The NSW system is a copy cat of a scheme already operating in Queensland.

Called Get Started the Qld scheme is aimed at “supporting sport and active recreation at the grassroots level”.

Vouchers handed out as part of the scheme assist children and young people who can least afford, or may otherwise benefit from, joining a sport or active recreation club.

According to the Qld government eligible children and young people can apply for a voucher valued up to $150, which can be redeemed at a sport or recreation club that is registered for Get Started Vouchers.

The NSW system will hand out $100 vouchers.

Under the Qld scheme applicants are children and young people aged from 5 to 17 (inclusive) who either hold or whose parent, carer or guardian hold a valid Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card with the child’s name on it; or are identified by a registered referral agent.

Parents and sporting club would welcome a similar scheme in NSW.

Speaking from personal experience, some years back the Cowra Triathlon Club decided to pay for registration for all school aged children who joined the club.

As a result we had an explosion in junior member numbers.

The following year, when parents were required to pay, our numbers fell off but we did manage to keep some of those “freebies” in the club.

Our free year showed that any assistance provided to parents does make a difference in terms of participation.

Even a small amount of assistance is going to make a difference, just ask any parent who is paying registration fees for multiple children across multiple sports.

The voucher system can’t come quick enough.

You have to wonder why it hadn’t been introduced earlier.