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Cost & Lifestyle

Signing kids up for sport in Brisbane: clubs, Play On! vouchers and blue cards

By Move to Brisbane team. Published 4 November 2026.

Four young children in plain training bibs playing soccer on a suburban sports field in late afternoon sun, with gum trees and a hill behind

Signing kids up for sport in Brisbane comes down to three jobs: find a club, register your child, and sort out the money. The Queensland Government’s Play On! Sports Vouchers are worth up to $200 for each eligible child aged 5 to 17, and the current round closes on 18 December 2026 unless the vouchers run out first. This guide covers how that works, what parents who help out need to know about blue cards, and how to pick a club when you are new to the city.

If you are still working out which part of greater Brisbane you will live in, start with our guide to the council areas.

How kids sport registration in Brisbane works

For most families, joining junior sport means joining a local club or activity provider. The Play On! FAQ describes the providers in the scheme as sport clubs, incorporated not-for-profit groups, community organisations and for-profit organisations affiliated with a recognised state or national sporting body. Ask the club directly about its registration dates and fees.

The Play On! eligible activity list gives a sense of the range. It includes football (soccer), netball, cricket, Australian football, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, tennis and touch, along with smaller sports such as fencing, orienteering and pickleball. The list notes that learn to swim lessons are not eligible.

  • Find clubs near you: the Play On! activity provider directory lists clubs that accept the vouchers, and it can filter for programs suited to children with disability.
  • Ask about sign-on: find out when registration opens and closes for your child’s age group.
  • Ask what the fee covers: check whether uniforms and training gear are charged separately.

Paying for kids sport in Brisbane with a Play On! voucher

A Play On! Sports Voucher is worth up to $200 and can only be used once, according to the Queensland Government program page, and the FAQ says it is used with one registered activity provider. Each eligible child can receive one voucher per financial year. If the club’s fees are under $200, the voucher covers the full amount, but the leftover cannot be refunded or moved to another sport. If the fees are higher, you pay the difference.

The voucher pays for membership or participation costs, such as weekly game fees, coaching, facility access and events. It cannot be used for equipment, uniforms or other non-participation costs, so budget separately for boots, a ball or a club shirt.

Who can apply? According to the Play On! FAQ, a child must be aged 5 to 17, live in Queensland and be listed on a valid Medicare card. Families can also apply with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. If you have only just arrived, check that your child’s Medicare details are in order before you start the application.

When to apply for kids sport vouchers in Brisbane

There are two application rounds each financial year, and the Play On! application page advises families to apply in the round that matches their child’s season. The key dates for the current round are listed on the program page:

  • Applications opened: 27 July 2026.
  • Applications close: 18 December 2026, unless the vouchers are exhausted earlier.
  • Last day to hand the voucher to a club: 18 June 2027.

If your child is playing a summer sport, apply in this round. If your child will play a winter sport later in the financial year, you may prefer to wait for the next round, because each child can receive only one voucher per financial year. The FAQ also says vouchers are handed out first come, first served until the funding runs out, so do not leave it to the last week.

Step by step: applying for a kids sport voucher in Brisbane

The application process runs online through the department’s Enquire system. Parents, carers and guardians apply, not the club.

  1. Check eligibility: confirm your child’s age, Queensland address and Medicare card, or have your concession card ready.
  2. Choose a club: make sure it appears in the activity provider directory, because only registered providers can accept the voucher.
  3. Apply online: create an Enquire account and submit the application.
  4. Download the voucher: once approved, log in, find the voucher under your child’s name, then print or email it.
  5. Hand it over at registration: present or email the voucher to the club when you register, before the expiry date.

What if your preferred club is not listed? The government suggests you encourage the club to check the criteria and register as a provider. Families in genuine financial hardship can also be referred by a registered referral agent, such as a youth worker, school guidance officer or principal, community health worker or disability support worker. Questions go to 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or playonvouchers@sport.qld.gov.au.

Blue cards for parents helping with kids sport in Brisbane

Queensland’s working with children check is the blue card. Under the Blue Card Services rules for sport, a blue card is needed to coach children, referee children’s competitions or volunteer at junior sporting events.

There is an exemption for parents. You do not need a blue card to volunteer in an activity your own child takes part in, unless you are a restricted person. The exemption stops applying in some common situations:

  • Overnight trips: the activity is an overnight camp or excursion.
  • Personal care: your role involves close personal contact with another child, such as bathing, toileting or dressing.
  • Your child is not playing: for example, you help with a team your child is not in.

Volunteers under 18, such as a teenage junior referee, are also exempt, unless they are a restricted person. Helpers who work in a canteen or bar do not need a card either. If you are unsure which rule fits your role, Blue Card Services can be reached on 1800 113 611.

Choosing a club for kids sport in Brisbane as a newcomer

Ask each club where it trains and plays, and how often. A club close to home is easier to keep up with across a whole season. If your child will get to training on their own, check bus or train access with our guide to Brisbane public transport.

  • Ask about the age group: how teams are graded, how many games a season, and where away games are played.
  • Ask about the costs: the full fee, what it includes, and whether the club accepts Play On! vouchers.
  • Ask about volunteers: what the club expects from parents who help out.
  • Ask about inclusion: whether it runs programs for children with disability, if that matters for your family.

Living in the Brisbane City Council area? Our Brisbane City council area guide covers council services, health care, schools and getting around.

Kids sport in Brisbane: quick answers

Can I use a Play On! voucher for two sports?

No. Each child can receive one voucher per financial year, and the voucher can be used once, with one registered provider. Any amount left over cannot be moved to a second sport, according to the program page.

Does the voucher pay for uniforms or boots?

No. The voucher covers registration, membership and participation fees only. Equipment, uniforms and other non-participation costs are excluded.

Do I need a blue card to help coach my child’s team?

Usually not. Under the state rules, a parent volunteering in an activity their own child takes part in is exempt. A card is needed if you are a restricted person, if the activity is an overnight camp or excursion, if the role involves close personal contact with another child, or if your own child is not taking part.

Sources for this kids sport in Brisbane guide

Facts on this page were checked on 4 November 2026.

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