Information for providers

The First Lap voucher program aims to make water safety education more accessible for NSW families, providing pre-school aged children (3-6 and not enrolled in school) one voucher each financial year to contribute towards the cost of swimming lessons.

From 1 July 2023, parents, guardians and carers of children aged 3 to 6 years who are not enrolled in school, can apply for a $50 voucher towards the cost of swimming lessons.

The voucher is valid until 30 June 2024

First Lap vouchers can be redeemed at time of payment for a child’s swimming lessons with an approved First Lap Provider.

No. The First Lap and Active Kids programs are two different voucher programs with different eligibility criteria and separate application processes. Approved Active Kids providers still need to apply to participate in the First Lap program. 

• Active Kids vouchers are only available to school-aged children whereas First Lap vouchers are only available to children aged 3-6 years who are not enrolled in school.

• First Lap vouchers can only be used for swimming lessons whereas Active Kids vouchers can be used for a range of sports and active recreation activities.
• First Lap vouchers are eligible to use for intensive swimming lessons over a number of days, whereas Active Kids programs must be delivered over a minimum of eight weeks. 
• The First Lap program uses a newer Service NSW voucher platform which means the application, management dashboard and redemption processes are different compared to Active Kids, which uses an older voucher platform.

To register as a provider with the First Lap program, you must deliver a structured and supervised learn to swim program over a minimum of 5 sessions. 

All First Lap providers must: 

• Be based in NSW; 

• Hold a current ABN or ACN; 

• Obtain Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance for all staff and/or volunteers, as required. Providers that are not sole traders must verify all WWCC through the Office of the Children’s Guardian website (www.ocg.nsw.gov.au). Sole traders’ WWCC must be verified by the eligible child’s parent, guardian, or carer;  

• Hold current insurance appropriate to the program being delivered; and

• Ensure all swimming instructors involved in program delivery hold a current Royal Life Saving Society, AUSTSWIM or ASCTA licence. 

You may be required to submit verification of business and activity program as outlined above to support your application to become a provider.  

All providers must be approved as a First Lap provider prior to accepting any vouchers.

There are two simple steps to register as a provider: 

1. Visit the First Lap providers page on service.nsw.gov.au and check the information you need to have on hand to complete your application.
2. Click the “Register Online” button on the page when you are confident that your organisation is eligible to become an approved First Lap provider, and that you have the required information and documents ready.

The First Lap voucher can be used for both intensive (where there is a lesson everyday), or regular weekly swimming lessons. 

The swimming lessons must be: 

• a structured and supervised program; 

• given by a swimming teacher; 

• in a swimming pool; and 

• a program of at least 5 lessons. 

Programs that take place in the following are not eligible: 

• Moving bodies of water 

• Water with potential underwater hazards 

• Water with low visibility  

Other costs and activities that are not eligible are: 

• Centre membership fees of an approved First Lap provider that is not part of a structured program  

• Casual visit passes 

• Any sessions not in a safe and suitable swimming facility 

• Travel to and from sessions 

• Any virtual or online program 

• Individual items or equipment (such as swimmers, goggles, flippers)  

The voucher is valid until 30 June 2024

Expired vouchers cannot be redeemed for reimbursement.  

A voucher can only be used once with an approved First Lap provider.   

Expired vouchers cannot be redeemed for reimbursement. 

No, when the fee is less than the voucher amount, the provider will be reimbursed the lesser value. 

No – online programs do not satisfy the core objectives or requirements of the First Lap program. 

Pools or aquatic centres located outside of NSW, but within border towns should contact the Office of Sport at firstlap@sport.nsw.gov.au with any eligibility queries.

No – if a provider has children participating in swimming lessons who live in another State or Territory, those children will not be eligible to claim a voucher as they must reside in NSW to be eligible for a voucher. 

Reimbursement to providers should occur within seven days of the redemption of vouchers. 

Please note that providers will be reimbursed the actual value of the swimming lessons up to the full voucher amount and do not automatically receive the full voucher amount for each voucher. 

Providers cannot raise their fees as a result of their registration in the First Lap program nor can they apply differential pricing for voucher holders vs non-voucher holders. 

Generally speaking, if a fee increase isn't warranted in the absence of a voucher program, then it would be deemed unreasonable. 

Providers may be audited at any time by the First Lap team, including review of fee increases. 

If a fee increase is deemed unreasonable by the First Lap team, providers may be suspended or removed from the program. 

The First Lap and Active Kids programs are two different voucher programs with different eligibility criteria for both providers and voucher applicants. 

The First Lap program uses a newer Service NSW voucher platform which means the application, management dashboard and redemption processes are different compared to Active Kids, which uses an older voucher platform.

When to submit separate applications for each location

• Your activity locations have different bank accounts and you do not wish to independently reallocate funds 
• To submit a separate application for each activity location, each activity location must either have a different ABN or a different business name listed on the Australian Business Register (ABR) 

When to include all activity locations in a single application

• Your activity locations share the same ABN and do not have unique business names on the ABR
• Your activity locations share the same bank account
• Your activity locations have different bank accounts, but you are willing to independently reallocate funds

Call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or email firstlap@sport.nsw.gov.au. 

If you require assistance from an interpreter, please call the Australian Government's Translating Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.