Media Coverage
Australian Associated Press; November 18, 2025
The great Australian tradition of children taking to the sporting field is under threat as household budget pressure forces parents to opt out of registration fees.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) of Australians think organised summer sport is a luxury only some can afford, with 36 per cent worried cost pressures are keeping kids indoors instead of playing.
Charity organisation Good 360 Australia’s research paints a concerning picture, with one in seven families unable to afford items for their family to participate in sport or other outdoor activities.
Expensive registration fees, largely driven by increasing insurance premiums, and pricey sporting equipment are unaffordable for many families, preventing their kids from participating.
Good360’s government and philanthropy head Susan Wallis said the data was “heartbreaking”, adding sport was not a luxury but something everyone deserved to be part of.
“Play poverty is a hidden crisis which affects people’s wellbeing in so many ways,” she said.
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