Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Government partnerships achieving community health*

The Australian Sports Commissions (ASC) Active After School Communities (AASC) program is partnering with Local Government in Western Australia to achieve community health outcomes and give Australia's young people the opportunity to get active. The AASC program forms part of the Australian Government's Building a Healthy Active Australia - a nationally coordinated response to the challenges posed by increasing levels of inactivity amongst the nation's children.

The program, which began in term two in 2005, is a free program that provides primary school aged children with access to fun, structured physical activities, including sports which encourage participation.

The national program works with local communities to increase the physical activity levels of primary school children and teach them how to be active for life.

A new partnership initiative has seen the AASC program in WA, along with Ian Mumford Consulting Services, joining forces with the Shires of Capel, Donnybrook-Balingup and Dardanup to implement a training program that develops the skills of local volunteers to become competent as sport and recreation leaders.

The original training program, which was developed in 2004 by the Shire of Capel and Ian Mumford Consulting, had several links to the AASC's new Community Coach Training Program (CCTP). The CCTP was developed in 2005 and is a requirement for anyone wishing to become a registered deliver of the AASC program. By linking the two training programs, the AASC and Local Government hoped to engage community clubs, members and sports to assist in improving the opportunities for young people between the ages of six to 12 years to get physically active.

Natasha Grosse, AASC Regional Coordinator, said that, by training community members as qualified sport and recreation leaders, the program aims to support sport and recreation programs within the local community.

"This program was an ideal partnership between AASC and Local Government as it encourages involvement and communication between all levels of government, including Federal Government, State departments, Local Government officers and Councillors, private providers, schools and the community," Natasha Grosse said.

Through the various Shires, each group organised many local community activities with primary schools that had an emphasis on fun and participation for all ages and abilities.

"The special events included group warm up and stretching, a rotation of activities that included motor skills development, teamwork, coordination and of course a lot of fun!" she said. "We then finished with a couple of fun modified team games and a cool down. Parents were also encouraged to accompany their children and have some fun. All of the adults involved in leading or coordinating the event have a Federal Police Clearance and emergency first aid training."

To date the joint program has been responsible for training several community members as qualified deliverers of the AASC program, with many of them now being employed and working within community.

Judy Flanagan, ASC National Junior Sport General Manager, said that initiatives such as this are helping the AASC program to find community members who are interested in becoming deliverers of the program.

"A key to the success of the AASC program is the support of the community," Judy Flanagan said. "By investing in the training of community members to not only deliver our program, but to also give them the skills to seek future sports coaching and leadership roles in the community, we are hoping to create a culture where physical activity is an integral part of everyday life.

"The AASC program has seen a number of positive outcomes for children, their families and local communities. Community support and local involvement in the program makes us confident that this program is stimulating involvement in sport and physical activity and getting kids more active."

The AASC program has grown from 900 sites and 45,000 children in term two 2005 to 2,230 sites and 110,000 children in term three in 2006. The program is aiming for 2,581 sites and 130,000 children by term four this year.

For further information on the AASC program visit www.ausport.gov.au/aasc

* Copy supplied by ASC

The following articles are also included in this edition or go BACK to the main page: