The NSW Creative Kids Voucher (and Active Kids program) is ending soon so use up your 2023 voucher. The scheme ends on 30 June 2023.
JUNE 2023 UPDATE: The NSW Government will continue the Active and Creative Kids voucher programs more sustainable by introducing a new means-tested scheme from Term 1 next year. This will be for families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A. The new voucher will be for $50 and will be issued twice a year, at the start of terms 1 and 3, beginning in 2024. It will cover activities currently available under both the Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher programs.
As an interim measure, the current Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers will be extended from July 1 2023 until the new scheme is in place from 1 February 2024. The interim vouchers will be to the value of $50 for school-aged children.
During COVID-19 pandemic, Service NSW enabled families to use it to purchase arts and craft kits from registered providers. The Creative Kids program allows vouchers to be used for arts and craft supplies that include an instructional program/lesson plan to guide children or young people on how to complete an activity or develop creative skills.
But from 1 January 2022, the Creative Kids program refocused on encouraging real-time (live) activities. Art kit programs, pre-recorded video lessons and online programs that are not delivered in real-time will no longer be eligible.
And as of 1 March 2022, the following changes were implemented:
- Voucher redemption for creative items or art kits/creative kits will not be permitted and any Creative Kids programs that included the purchase of materials or supplies are no longer eligible. This includes but is not limited to paints, books, stationery, canvases, clothing, uniforms, leotards, instruments or other equipment.
- Online programs will be capped at 20 participants to ensure meaningful interactive activities for children and young people.
- New providers will be required to meet some additional requirements relating to qualifications and program delivery.
This means that you can no longer use your NSW Creative Kids voucher to redeem for free art and craft kits. However, you can still receive online tuition and may have to pay for the cost of the art kits.
The following were verified registered providers as of 1 January 2022. With these recent changes on 1 March 2022, please check directly with a provider to see if they are still participating. We’ll be updating this list as we find out more.
A Little Spirit
A Little Spirit is passionate about the importance of creative expression as a means for children to explore themselves and the world they live in. Whether painting, drawing, papermaking or photo processing, A Little Spirit’s considered art kits are packed full of supplies to support your child on their creative journey. With art kits designed for preschoolers all the way through to senior art students, there is something for absolutely every age and stage. There are currently 10 different Creative Kids kits available including the innovative Nature Print Set and Sparkle Set. 1 x 75 minute workshop is held on the 1st Monday of each month.
Bright Crafts
Love Tie Dye? Order a Creative Kids Tie Dye Kit from Bright Crafts in Maitland. You can create your own unique designs or favourite patterns like tie dye spirals, stripes, targets, circles and mandalas. The kit includes 1 x ticket to live online workshop via Zoom. Allow 2-4 weeks for kit delivery. Workshops are held twice per month usually on Saturday afternoon.
Brilliant Kids
Brilliant Kids Australia believes in bringing quality but affordable education to all children in NSW regardless of their background leveraging digital transformation. They offer a wide range of art, craft and STEM kits using Creative Kids Vouchers with free shipping NSW wide. They believe that a child from an outback town should have equal access to quality education as the one in the posh eastern suburbs. What differentiate them from other creative kids providers is the quality online learning platform that comes with art and STEM packages. Their STEM kits include live Zoom online classes for a mini Sphero, Smart Edison robots, Osmo learning tools, Nanoleaf Essentials SmartLight and Stanley Robot.
Charlie Boots
Want the absolute best value from your Creative Kids Voucher? Charlie Boots has a huge range of Creative Kids Workshops to suit all ages and interests; such as Tie-Dye, Customise a Champion Hoodie, POSCA Pens, STEM Models, Nanoblocks, Drawing/Paint/Sketching, Star Wars build + colour wooden models, Pouring Paints, Macrame, Calligraphy, Modelling Clay, Paint By Numbers and many more! Charlie Boots is run by the Mum and Dad team based in Avoca Beach on the Central Coast. Clare & Aaron are parents to 4 kids of their own so have plenty of inside information (and messy product testing!) to know what kids are really looking for from their creative craft workshops! Go to www.charlieboots.com.au to check out their amazing range of workshops and see their 2022 workshop calendar.
Craft Fun
Looking for something different from your Creative Kids Voucher? Craft Fun has the best value for money and a variety of premium kits that you can order. From calligraphy to wreath making, they are your one stop creative shop. Each kit comes with a step-by-step instruction booklet and all the necessary tools for each activity, plus they always add a little extra so it’s endless hours of fun in each box! They also include free and fast shipping. Visit their website and see their 2022 workshop calendar.
Craft Kids
Craft Kids located in Abbotsbury (Sydney) are dedicated to delivering a fun and entertaining way for kids to learn, play and create as they achieve a variety of learning outcomes. They stock three craft boxes. The Creative Craft Box , Crafty Craft Box and the new Slime & Paint Craft Box. In this new kit, kids can make five different types of slime. Bring on fun and messy play!
Each box provides children with a variety of craft activities all delivered in the one box. Clear easy to understand step by step instructions are provided with pictures to help guide your child along the way. This Craft Kids boxes are suitable for children 4 to 16 years of age. Visit their website and see their 2022 workshop calendar.
Craft Nation
Craft Nation is a kids craft store dedicated to providing your child with exciting hands-on craft. The kids craft activity sets are not only fun and full of environmentally sustainable and safe products, but come with educational booklets to teach kids about different countries of the world including China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Norway and Russia. If you are based in NSW, you can use your $100 Creative Kids to access live online classes. Live online classes are held on the first Saturday of every month.
Free in Spirit Creative
Choose from a variety of fun painting packs from Free in Spirit Creative in Shellharbour including a beginners watercolour pack, acrylic paint starter pack, rock art painting and tie dye kit, fabric paint and more to use up your Creative Kids Voucher. They will be soon releasing Video Tutorials that can be redeemed with your 2022 Creative Kids Voucher.
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand in Sydney offers a Creative Kids Voucher Bundle Pack. This includes your choice of four preschool kits suitable for kids aged 3 – 6 and free shipping. Choose your live session when you purchase kit via their website.
Hola Nanu
Hola Nanu in Sydney offers a range of kits containing products to encourage children’s imagination, creativity and curiosity. These kits include Construction Zone, Dino World, Diggers and Trucks, Fun Bundle, Planet Love and Sensory Bundle. Kits are free with your Creative Kids voucher with shipping included. It includes 1x Live Class via Zoom/Facetime OR Face to face in Corrimal.
Imprint Mastery
Use your $100 Creative Kids Voucher to buy one of the Create at Home Boxes from Imprint Mastery in Kurrajong Heights Each Create at Home box contains everything your child needs to get creative at home. Choose from Acrylic Painting Kit, Brush Lettering Kit, Advanced Watercolours Kit, Tiny Artists Kit and Advanced Acrylic Paints Kit. Lessons are each Tuesday afternoon 5pm to 6pm. Your kit comes with access to 5 online classes.
Kids Circle
With parents and kids in mind, Kids Circle has used their expertise to offer fun, easy and creative Live Online Workshops your kids can enjoy throughout the whole year. All with Craft Boxes neatly organised with all the materials need. Kids Circle selects attractive, high-quality materials so children can have fun and get motivated to create at home. There is a wide range of different kits to choose from including clay, tie-dye, pouring, origami, woodcraft, slime and more all with easy-to-follow instructions, plus they are always adding new and innovative packs to the collection.
Kids Write and Create
Kids Write and Create is led by dedicated teachers with over 15 years of experience teaching across a range of Sydney schools. They are determined to engage children in the writing process and foster a love of learning through fun and engaging activities. They believe that all children have the potential to learn and thrive and focus on building a positive mindset through Creative Writing. They offer two kits each $100 that are available to be redeemed using the Creative Kids Voucher. Postage to all areas of NSW is included so there is no more to pay! There is a Creative Writing Kit which provides all of the materials needed to plan, draft and publish creative stories. There is also a Wellbeing Journal Kit which provides children with an age-appropriate wellbeing journal, mindfulness activities such as colouring and self-reflection journal prompts. The team have structured questions that will help children to build a growth mindset and believe in themselves. The aim of journal writing as a means of Creative Writing is to allow children to achieve mental clarity and prioritise worries or fears. Free online live lesson included with every kit purchased.
KimBaker.Design
KimBaker.Design based in Wagga Wagga has a range of watercolour art lesson kits that kids can do at home. These kits cost $100 each and include free postage in NSW. All of the 2022 Online Creative Kids Programs are $100, or FREE with a Service NSW Creative Kids voucher. Students will receive art supplies (postage included), 2 x 1-hour Zoom classes, instructor support, plus access to online resources, Q&A sessions and additional online Zoom classes throughout the year.
Life of Colour
Life of Colour offers a range of Creative Kids Voucher kits, all of which are $100 so you won’t need to pay anything more. You’ll just need to add Creative Kids voucher number when you make your purchase. These kits were created in collaboration with a NSW early learning educator. Each of them comes with a fun activity sheet that will teach the kids new skills. The art supplies can be later reused for more educational creative fun. Kits include Kids Rock Painting, Creative Kids Art Journalling for Teens, Creative Kids Colourful Art and Creative Kids Lettering. It includes 9 x 60 minute live interactive lessons delivered monthly by engaging teachers that you and your kids will love via Facebook Live.
Luna and Co Designs Creative
Luna and Co Designs Creative on the Central Coast offers a Creative Kids DIY Gold Art Pack. This contains five activities that are all substantial in size, and are fun, creative and will keep the kids busy for longer. Activities include air dry clay creations, decorate your own library bag, polymer clay kit and more. Shipping is free or you can pick up from either Kariong or Point Clare. They also have a Sensory Creative Kids DIY Craft Pack, Punch, Dye & Sparkle DIY kit, Tie-Dye and Fabric Fun Kit and a Creative Kids Polymer DIY Pack. Includes 1 live online class with a qualified teacher.
Make & Create with Wick’d
Make & Create with Wick’d offers a Kids Candle Making Kit for kids age 5+ and up. The kit include jars, wicks and coloured wax beads. This candle kit does not involve any heating of hot wax and is very safe for children. There is also an Advanced Candle Making kit for kids 10+ which requires heating of soy wax. Live workshops are held online each month.
The Seed Creative
The Seed Creative in Port Macquarie have an extensive range of art kits to redeem for the Creative Kids Voucher. These include acyclic painting, watercolour art, polymer clay, resin jeweller, and mixed media art. Visit the website to see upcoming live workshops via Google Meet.
Splash on Peel
Splash on Peel located in Tamworth have put together a range of art kits. They include a Mega Art Kit, Mega Fabric Paint kit, Mega Sketch Kit and Mega Paint Pour & Draw Kits. These are packed full of art supplies so kids can get creative and make lots of different art works. The kits are priced at $100 and includes free shipping as well as 2 Live Online Zoom Lessons.
How can I claim my NSW Creative Kids Rebate?
It’s quick and easy to claim a voucher. Creative Kids vouchers are available via the Service NSW website or you can go into your Service Centre and staff will assist you at the self-service kiosks. The vouchers can be redeemed with a participating provider at any time during the calendar year it was issued.
If you’re not sure if you’ve used your Creative Kid Voucher, log onto Service NSW and look on the Dashboard screen under My Applications. If you’ve applied for Creative Kids and Active Kids, it will show there. Click in Applications to see your online applications and if a voucher has been redeemed.
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