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Building a Healthy Active Australia initiative

Regular physical activity and healthy food can make a real difference to the wellbeing of our children. Australian families will get practical help through an $11 million information program on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.

The recently launched Get Moving campaign is based on Australia 's physical activity recommendations for Children and Young People. These resources provide information on getting active as well as a range of tips and suggestions for children, teens and parents. The Go for 2&5™ fruit and vegetable campaign, explained how easy it is to find a way to get some extra fruit and vegies in your day. The following link provides information on serves and fruit and vegetables as well as some great suggestions and recipe ideas that will help you include more fruit and vegies in your day. Booklet - It’s easy to find a way to get some extra fruit and vegies in your day (PDF 893 KB)

The Healthy and Active School Communities kit (PDF 281 KB) provides information to assist schools to promote healthy eating and physical activity for primary and secondary school students and their families.

The information in Healthy and Active School Communities is based on the findings of a project undertaken by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Evaluation of Quality Practice in the Promotion of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Australian Schools. The project examined national and international literature on good practice in schools in the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity. The project also reviewed a range of Australian primary and secondary schools for quality programs that promote physical activity and healthy eating and identified 16 ‘exemplar' schools. These schools are presented as Case Studies.

The National Obesity Taskforce

The National Obesity Taskforce put its report and a national action agenda for children, young people and their families to Australian Health Ministers in November 2003. Healthy Weight 2008 - Australia's Future - The National Action Agenda for Children and Young People and their Families (PDF 259 KB) recommends actions across a range of settings such as child care, schools, primary care, maternal and infant health care, neighbourhoods, workplaces, food supply, family and community services, media and marketing. The focus is on children and young people.

In November 2003, Australian Health Ministers asked the National Obesity Taskforce to lead and coordinate the implementation of Healthy Weight 2008 and to develop further advice on strategies to address obesity in adults and older Australians.

In July 2004, Australian Health Ministers announced a review of the evidence for actions to reduce overweight and obesity in adults and older Australians. This Literature Review was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing on behalf of the National Obesity Taskforce and undertaken by the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity at Sydney University.

The National Obesity Taskforce put its national action agenda for adults and older Australians to Australian Health Ministers in April 2006. Healthy Weight for Adults and Older Australians (PDF 543 KB) provides opportunities for the health sector, food industry, local government and communities to prevent weight gain in the first instance and to help people manage their weight better. The action agenda targets five population groups:

the whole adult population
older people
people living in rural and remote locations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
people with established risk for weight-related chronic conditions

There are many activities currently being undertaken by the Taskforce and its members. An overview of some of the key, top line activities undertaken during 2004 and 2005 are available online:

The National Obesity Taskforce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workshop (PDF 101 KB) identified and suggested a number of priority actions to address overweight and obesity in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The Department of Health and Ageing funded the Nutrition and Physical Activity Branch of WA Health to host the national workshop with 30 community leaders and other professionals from across Australia , who have been working in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition and physical activity, including obesity.

Departmental Nutrition Publications

Additional nutrition and healthy eating resources can be found at the following web site:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-food-recommend.htm

Departmental Physical Activity Publications

Additional resources and further information on Australia 's physical activity guidelines and recommendations can be found at the following web site:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-links.htm

Departmental Overweight and Obesity Publications

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