Government provides $316,000 to promote healthy school communities

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher today announced that the Government is providing $316,000 in funding through the Health Promotion Grants Program to promote healthy school communities in the Canberra region.

The Healthy Schools, Healthy Children Funding Round is part of a broader suite of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy, active lifestyles for our children and young people.

"The funding awarded enables school communities to purchase equipment and implement projects that promote healthy eating habits and regular physical activity," the Chief Minister said.

"Health Directorate is working collaboratively with the Education and Training Directorate for the delivery of this funding round as part of the ACT Government's commitment to providing young people with the best start in life."

The 2012 Healthy Schools, Healthy Children Funding Round attracted 58 applications, with 33 projects awarded funding following an extensive assessment process. Some of the successful projects to be funded in 2012 include:

• Pedal Power- ‘Travel Smart to School Project' which aims to support families to change their behaviour towards more sustainable travel, both to and from school. The purpose of this process is to encourage more active travel, including walking, cycling and use of public transport to school, and to minimise car use.

• North Ainslie Primary School (NAPS) Parents and Citizens Association; ‘Healthy Eating Hub, Sensory Garden and No-Waste Chook Pen Project' which aims to demonstrate to students that food can be part of a sustainable environment, by provision of healthy canteen food, utilising salad vegetables from the school's Sensory Garden and eggs from the No-Waste Chook Pen. Food scraps will be gathered from children's morning teas and lunches and the school canteen, to be reused in the No-Waste Chook Pen.

• Evatt Primary School - Yoga and Relaxation Projectwhich aims to provide students with a disability with opportunities to experience and understand components of a healthy lifestyle that include healthy eating and elements of yoga (physical activity; relaxation; and meditation) that are fun and meaningful to the children.

"The ACT Government is committed to reducing the burden of chronic disease whilst encouraging people to maintain positive health and wellbeing," the Chief Minister said.

For the full list of successful organisations, please refer to the ACT Government Health Directorate website www.health.act.gov.au/hcfr