$500,000 available for healthy living initiatives

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher is encouraging community groups and government agencies from across Canberra to apply for this year's funding which will help promote healthy living amongst Canberrans.

"With half a million dollars of funding being offered by the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program through the 2012/13 Health Promotion Sponsorship and Stay On Your Feet® Falls Prevention Funding Rounds, this is a great opportunity for community groups to be funded to promote a key health campaign and to create healthy environments that are accessible to all," the Chief Minister said.

$300,000 will be provided through the Health Promotion Sponsorship Funding Round which is open to sporting, recreational, arts and cultural organisations with an interest in promoting good health and wellbeing through their activities. Funding of $30,000, $20,000 or $10,000 is available.

"These grants are an excellent way for an organisation to develop a healthy environment which can include providing healthy food choices, promoting tap water, providing sun protection and reducing environmental impacts," the Chief Minister said.

Organisations funded in 2011/12 included the QL2 Centre for Youth Dance for the ‘Go for 2&5®' campaign and Pedal Power ACT for the ‘Tap into water everyday' campaign.

In addition, up to $200,000 will be available in the Stay On Your Feet® Falls Prevention Funding Round, aimed at supporting projects that focus on reducing the incidence and severity of falls and fall related injuries among older people in the ACT. Residential aged care facilities and community groups are encouraged to apply for this funding to develop and implement evidence based falls prevention programs.

"Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is also a key commitment for the ACT Government and as such, groups focusing on this area are encouraged to apply for funding," the Chief Minister concluded.

Further information, funding guidelines and access to the online application system is available from the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program website, at www.health.act.gov.au/hpgrants. Applications close on 19 March 2012.