Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Active After-school Communities

Building a Healthy, Active Australia

Primary school-aged children across Australia are becoming more obese, physically inactive and subsequently less healthy. The Australian Government has made a strong commitment to this challenge with $116 million over four years for the Building a Healthy, Active Australia package to address declining activity and poor eating habits among our children and young people.

Active After-school Communities

As part of the package, the Government will spend $90 million over four years to establish the Active After-school Communities program. The program will be managed by the Australian Sports Commission and delivered nationally to children in primary schools and approved Child Care Benefit (CCB) Out of School Hours Care Services*, beginning in Term 1 of 2005.

The time slot of 3.00pm to 5.30pm provides a real opportunity to encourage physical activity for primary school-aged children. Children can stay within their school or out of school hours care services alleviating many of the issues of unsupervised activities after school. Sporting organisations, sporting clubs, local community organisations and private providers of sporting programs will be invited to deliver junior physical activity sessions during this timeslot.

National sporting organisations have been very positive about and supportive of the program.

*Note: This program is only available for delivery after school, not during before school or vacation care.

What support will primary schools or approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Services receive?

Participating primary schools or approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Services will have access to the following:

• resources to assist in conducting structured physical activity programs, including equipment and trained personnel
• a designated Australian Sports Commission Active After-school Communities regional coordinator to help link primary schools or approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Services to program deliverers. Program deliverers could include people from local sporting clubs, private providers, community groups, teachers or others in the school community, and state sporting organisations. The regional coordinator will be the contact point and provide local support.
• development opportunities for volunteers, teachers, care centre staff and people from the local community to deliver appropriate programs
• a national network of primary schools and approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Services working to help address childhood obesity
• an interactive web site for teachers, approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Service staff, families and children, with updated information and advice on healthy, active lifestyles.

How can local councils and government become involved?

The role of local councils and government in the Active After-school Communities program is currently being explored. There will be a number of opportunities to become involved. These may include:

• providing assistance in finding local program deliverers. Program deliverers could include local sporting clubs, community groups, members of the school community, teachers and private providers
• communication of the Active After-school Communities program to local networks
• providing the use of local sporting facilities from 3.00pm to 5.30pm for delivery of the physical activity programs.

The Active After-school Communities program also provides an opportunity for the Australian Sports Commission and local councils and government to work together to support and grow local government initiatives. As more information regarding the role of local councils and government becomes available, the Australian Sports Commission will ensure that it is communicated to all stakeholders.

For more information about the Active After-school Communities program, visit www.ausport.gov.au/aasc or call 1800 664 564.

The Australian Government, through the Australian Sports Commission, looks forward to working with Australian primary schools, approved CCB Out of School Hours Care Services and the community to increase the physical activity levels of Australian children. So come and join the team to help make Australia a country of healthy, active children! Take up the challenge.

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