Extracurricular Activities Payment Boost

$1,500 Boost for Extracurricular Activities

From 1 July 2025, carers and guardians will be eligible to receive $1,500 per year for each child in their primary care to support that child’s participation in extracurricular activities. Carers and guardians will receive a biannual payment of $750 for each child in their care on 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026.

The new payments will support every child under 18 years of age who is living in a family-based care or non-family-based care arrangement, including long-term or permanent guardians.

For carers and guardians, the payments will be made automatically alongside fortnightly care allowance payments.

Extracurricular activities include 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.

For children under the age of 5, activities such as swimming lessons, playgroups, and sensory and development classes may be chosen.

The $1,500 boost can also be used to support club memberships, enrolments, equipment or other resources children and young people may need to participate.

To help carers and guardians prepare and start to explore with children and young people what their interests read the guidelines below:

Guidelines for extracurricular activities