We are pretty lucky in the NT and have a number of voucher schemes available through the Northern Territory Government to help with the costs of our kids. These vouchers include the Back to school voucher, School sports voucher and the learn to swim vouchers. This blog outlines how you apply for your vouchers, where and what you can claim plus all the details you need to know.
NT Vouchers for kids
Back to School vouchers
One of the NT Vouchers for kids available is the Back to school payment. Every child enrolled in a NT Government or non Government school from Preschool to Year 12 will receive a $150 back to school payment for educational goods or services. These payments must be used in Term 1 of each school year. These payments are claimed through the school office. You can claim your entitlement from the school your child first attends in Term 1. You do not need to produce any documentation in order to use the entitlement and is only available through your child’s school.
Items you can use for the school payments include: school uniforms, school hats, textbooks, stationery book packs, school excursions, school swimming lessons, student ID cards, stationery (including calculators, flash drives, school diaries), student photography, school camps and elective activities.
Even if the excursion/camp/activities etc do not occur in Term 1 you can still nominate and pay for that activity, for a date later in the year. For example if the School camp occurs in Term 3 you can still nominate $40 from the Back to school payment to go towards the school camp fees.
There are some things which the Back to school payment will not cover and some conditions of use. To read all of these details click here or speak with your school directly.
NT School Sports Vouchers
School aged children living in Urban areas of the NT are eligible to receive two $100 school sports vouchers. One voucher in January and one in July you can use these vouchers on sport, recreation and cultural activities.
You will need to apply online for your child’s vouchers
First step is to create an account or log in on the GrantsNT website, search for Sport voucher and then complete the application and submit.
Some key dates regarding vouchers. All vouchers expire on 31 May each year.
Here is the list of providers where you can use your child’s school sports voucher.
Once you receive the School sports voucher (via email), contact your chosen provider about using your sports voucher (most will accept the voucher emailed to them). They will then reduce the fees/registration of the activity.
For more information about the School sports voucher scheme head here.
Learn to Swim vouchers
If your child is under five years old and not enrolled in preschool or school, you can apply for learn to swim vouchers in the Northern Territory. You can receive two $100 learn to swim vouchers in a year – one in January and one in July.
The Water Safety Awareness Program is a Northern Territory Government initiative, as a part of the Five Point Water Safety Plan introduced in 2002 to reduce the rate of drowning and near drowning incidents of children aged under 5.
How to apply
Follow these steps to get and use a learn to swim voucher.
Step 1. Register for the water safety awareness program online form on the Royal Life Saving NT website.
Step 2. Apply for a learn to swim voucher on the GrantsNT website.
Step 3. Find a registered swim activity provider from View registered providers here.
Step 4. Book lessons with the registered swim activity provider using your learn to swim voucher.
Learn to Swim vouchers expire on 31 May each year.
We hope you this blog has explained all the NT Vouchers available and the processes to claim.