Better health and ageing for all Australians

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Queensland research team wins more than $2 million to research the 'diseases of inactivity'

Finding ways to help Australians exercise more will the focus of a Queensland medical research team who were today awarded a grant of $2.1 million by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson.

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2 July 2003

Queensland research team wins more than $2 million to research the 'diseases of inactivity'

Finding ways to help Australians exercise more will the focus of a Queensland medical research team who were today awarded a grant of $2.1 million by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant, awarded to a team at the University of Queensland, is intended to improve national capacity in population health research and foster opportunities for young Australian medical scientists.

"Exercise is important in the prevention of obesity, which has become far more prevalent amongst Australians in the past decade," Senator Patterson said.

"I am pleased to announce funding for a team led by Professor Neville Owen, to investigate diseases and rates of inactivity and ways to help Australians be more active.

"This project is looking at ways to get accurate information about the amount of exercise that Australians get, the best types of activity for different people, and ways to make exercise more convenient and enjoyable.

"These grants will provide funding for leading Australian medical research teams to mentor young researchers and help foster the next generation of experts to lead our research efforts," Senator Patterson said.

"I want to ensure that there are opportunities for our brightest young researchers to develop their careers for the benefit of all Australians now and into the future," she added.

The funding for health and medical research in Australia was doubled by the Commonwealth in the 1999-2000 Federal Budget, as a result of the Wills Review.

A total of five NHMRC grants, totalling $11.6 million, were awarded to teams in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory.

Media inquiries:
Randal Markey, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.
Jeanne Klener, NHMRC Media Unit, (02) 6289 5796

Queensland NHMRC capacity building grant recipient

Building capacity for physical activity research in population health ($2.12 million)
Cancer Prevention Research Centre, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
Professor Neville G. Owen

The program will focus on the 'diseases of inactivity' and will look at factors like obtaining accurate statistics on rates of inactivity and better statistics on which social groups are least active.

It will look at:

  • the types of activity that are best for different people;
  • what the best types of exercise programs are;
  • the types of information campaigns that will be most effective; and
  • how community amenities and local environments might be used to help people to be active in ways that are more convenient and enjoyable.