Free Little Angler Kits - Grade 5 Students
Free Little Angler Kits from the Victorian Government – Grade 5 students
Year Five families and students only:
To opt out of receiving a fishing kit, please notify the school by Friday 21st August.
The Victorian Government is committed to increasing the number and diversity of people fishing and enjoying Victoria’s local seafood, growing healthy and sustainable fisheries sectors and contributing to Victoria’s social and economic prosperity. This is why the Victorian Government distributed 95,000 Little Angler kits to primary aged students in 2023/24, via the Victorian Fisheries Authority, as part of a $1.5M election commitment, funded via the sale of Victorian recreational fishing licences, i.e. funded by recreational fishers.
The aim of this election commitment was to continue to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria, by actively encouraging primary school aged children to learn more about the art of fishing, marine life and the natural environment. Encouraging children to be outside and active aligns with whole of Victorian Government initiatives underway to optimise health, wellbeing, connectedness and inclusiveness in Victoria.
Following the successful implementation of the commitment, the Victorian Government will run the program again in 2026, via the Victorian Fisheries Authority, offering 82,500 Little Angler kits to primary school children in 2026.
The FREE kits provide a wonderful school holiday activity for children with their families and help ease the cost of living, providing a fun activity close to home.
Year Five students at all Victorian schools, including ours, will be offered the opportunity to receive a FREE Little Angler Kit. Year Five students have been selected based on the Victorian Curriculum focus, movement and motor development, and safety considerations.
The program is entirely voluntary. Schools were provided with the option to opt out of the program. Our school has opted to stay in the program so that parents can decide whether they want their child(ren) to receive a fishing kit.
Opt Out
Parents and carers of Year Five students can advise the school if they do not wish their child(ren) to participate for any reason whatsoever. We support parents and carers in making decisions that align with their family values and beliefs.
To opt out of receiving a kit please notify the school by via email by Friday 21st August.
Please note that if you do not opt out, your child will be provided with a Little Angler Kit to take home from school.
Receiving Kits
The roll out of kits will occur in August 2026 so that all participating children will have a kit in time for the September school holidays.
The kits include a rod, reel with line, tackle tray, some tackle (including fishing hooks and lead-free sinkers) and information on how to use them to catch a fish. The tackle tray will be wrapped in cardboard and placed inside a pocket inside the fishing kit bag, which will be sealed with a cable tie to discourage students from opening their kits until they are with a parent or carer. The kits will also have a safety label attached to the outside of the kit bag, recommending that students wait to open the kits until they are under the care and supervision of an adult.
Kits will be handed out to students to take home with them as soon as the school receives them. Teachers will tell students not to open the kits until they are safely at home with a parent or carer.
More Information
For instructional videos and online resources about where and how to fish, visit the Little Angler hub.
If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the Little Angler Kits program or the opt-out process, please refer to this frequently asked questions document, which includes contact information for the project manager at the VFA.