$397,000 in funding to promote healthy schools

ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, today announced the projects to receive a slice of almost $400,000 in funding to promote healthy school communities as part of the Government’s preventative health measures.

Funding totalling $397,000 is being provided through the 2010 ACT Health Promotion Grants Program Healthy Schools Healthy Children Funding Round for projects that promote the school as a setting for healthy eating and physical activity.

“A wide variety of projects have received funding this year, including programs that encourage cycling to school, the development of school kitchen gardens, dance as a fun form of exercise and hands-on education about nutrition, cooking and budgeting,” Ms Gallagher said.

The Healthy Schools Healthy Children Funding Round offers funding to members of the ACT school community including pre-schools, primary schools, high schools, colleges, after school care programs, school clusters and community groups working within schools.

Sixty-three applications were received for the 2010 round with 31 projects awarded funding following an extensive assessment process.

“Due to the high calibre of applications, ACT Health was able to fund an additional $97,000 for an exciting range of projects in schools,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The funding awarded will go towards important equipment and encourage small projects in school communities that support key ACT Government initiatives relating to healthy eating habits and the promotion of regular physical activity.

“The ACT Government is committed to providing young people with the best start in life. The Healthy Schools Healthy Children Funding Round is part of a broader suite of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy active lifestyles in our young people.”

Some of the projects and programs funded include:

• Duffy Primary School Kitchen Garden – The school has already established garden beds and a garden shed and will purchase water tanks, a secure chicken enclosure and gardening equipment to complete the project and make the garden self-sufficient to encourage healthy eating habits in its students (P-6).

• Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club and FOODcents Program – the Red Cross will establish/expand its Breakfast Clubs at six ACT schools and serve nutritious breakfasts to children who may otherwise go without. FOODcents is a hands-on practical program educating parents about nutrition, cooking and budgeting.

• Vision Impaired Sport ACT – VISCAT will develop and run a pilot program to engage children and young people with low vision in physical education and PE classes involving their sighted peers. Equipment such as blindfolds, balls with bells, and beeping balls will be used so that all children can participate.

• Bimberi Youth Justice Centre – Bimberi LifeSkills Project. The Bimberi LifeSkills Program will be a holistic project which aims to provide healthy lifestyles knowledge, skills and a sense of well-being for the young people in detention so they are better equipped to have a positive transition back to independent living once they have completed their sentences.

• Lyneham/Melrose High Schools Drumbeat Project - Melrose and Lyneham High Schools will combine in a joint project to develop the DRUMBEAT program. Four teachers will complete the training in this highly successful and evidence based program that has been delivered both in Australia and overseas. This project addresses the needs the schools have to develop programs which will engage students in a physical activity while also helping to develop self-expression, resilience and connectedness to school and the wider community.

• Narrabundah College – Increasing Bike Riding at Narrabundah College. This project aims to improve the health of the college population and promote participation in bike riding. This project will enable the creation of a cemented area and the installation of 30 poles to secure bikes. To promote the ongoing use of this facility, the college will run two bike trips in 2010 as part of both the health awareness program and the fundraising for charities program. 

• Black Mountain School – Helping Hands for Healthy Horizons. The project will involve a group of students from the Hospitality Work Education program at Black Mountain School working with Gowrie Primary School students to provide healthy canteen snacks and lunches for students one day per week. This project will promote a range of personal and life skills for the Black Mountain School students including positive communication, team building, appropriate OH&S practices, and problem solving skills, while promoting healthy eating practices.

Further information, guidelines and application forms are available from the ACT Health Promotion Grants website, at www.health.act.gov.au/hpgrants

26 February 2010