Boost for Healthy Kids and Healthy Workers in South Australia

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PDF printable version of Boost for Healthy Kids and Healthy Workers in South Australia (PDF 19 KB)

29 June 2011

School and work are the latest South Australian battlegrounds in the fight to combat obesity and make healthier lifestyle choices following a huge boost to the Healthy Children and Healthy Workers initiatives.

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon today joined Clovelly Park Primary Schools kids for a healthy cooking class to announce $44 million to deliver programs that encourage healthy lifestyle choices in schools, workplaces and community settings across South Australia.

“We spend a lot of our day either at work or school so it’s important that healthy habits are encouraged there,” Minister Roxon said.

“The Gillard Government wants to keep Australians well and out of hospital, and programs like Healthy Children and Healthy Workers provide practical support to people looking to make a healthy change.

Minister Roxon announced $23.3 million for Healthy Children in South Australia to expand the Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Program (OPAL) to establish five new sites in West Torrens, Murray Bridge, Mid Murray, Mt Remarkable/Peterborough/Northern Area and Playford local government areas by the end of 2011 and a further five sites in 2012.

South Australia will also receive $21.2 million under the Healthy Workers initiative to deliver programs in workplaces that encourage and support employees to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. The South Australian Government is currently conducting a tender process to deliver the program.

"The Healthy Children initiative, which Clovelly Park Primary School has participated in, is a great example of how engaging kids in healthy cooking classes and the design and construction of a school vegetable garden can help them to adopt healthy habits early in life," Minister Roxon said.

“With more than 60 per cent of adults and 25 per cent of children either overweight or obese, there has never been a more important time to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

“We know that obese children are more likely to remain at unhealthy weights as they grow into adults so Healthy Children will encourage kids to form lifelong healthy habits like eating their vegies and staying active.”

South Australian Health Minister John Hill said that the South Australian Government was pleased to be partnering with the Commonwealth to deliver practical programs that will reduce the risk of chronic disease.

“Innovative programs like healthy cooking classes here at Clovelly Park Primary School, the 'Better Barbies' program at public community events and supporting the delivery of CALD Community Foodies program are practical ways of helping our community to make healthy lifestyle choices.

“South Australia will receive $21.2 million under the Healthy Workers initiative to deliver programs in workplaces that encourage and support employees to quit smoking, reduce their alcohol intake, increase their levels of physical activity and intake of fruits and vegetables.”

The Healthy Children funding will also contribute seed funding to the Northern Territory program, Community Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (COPAL).

The Healthy Workers and the Healthy Children initiatives forms a significant part of the Gillard Government’s $872 million investment in preventive health.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220