$10M COMMUNITY GRANTS ACROSS QLD TO HELP BEAT OBESITY
Published Tuesday, 17 October, 2006 at 12:26 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Queensland communities will be able to deliver their own programs to combat obesity through a new Eat Well, Be Active Community Partnerships Grants Program unveiled today by Premier Peter Beattie.
Mr Beattie said the State Government initiative would provide $10 million in grants over three years, including $3 million this financial year with applications opening today (October 17).
“Obesity is now the single biggest health issue confronting the western world,” Mr Beattie said.
“In Queensland, two in three males and one in two females are overweight and, of those, around 650,000 adults and 25,000 children are clinically obese,” he said.
“This is already placing a huge strain on our health system. People who are overweight are at a much greater risk of developing serious medical conditions such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gallbladder disease, depression and certain kinds of cancer.”
Mr Beattie said the Government is committed to helping Queenslanders beat the obesity epidemic, but he warned this was not a fight it could win alone.
“It will require a concerted community effort involving families, schools, health professionals, sports groups, urban planners, food producers, retailers, advertisers, employers and the media, working in partnership with Government,” he said.
“That’s why we held the Queensland Obesity Summit in May to increase public awareness about this community problem, to encourage collaboration and identify how best to move forward.
“At the time we announced a $21 million package of initiatives to help Queenslanders improve their nutrition and get more active.
“Eat Well, Be Active is the major recipient of funding and the name of the game is partnerships.
“These grants will encourage our councils, schools, childcare centres, sports clubs, Indigenous organisations and other community groups to work together and deliver their own obesity-fighting initiatives at the local level.”
Mr Beattie said approved partnership applications would receive grants of up to $50,000.
“Schools and Indigenous community organisations can receive up to 75% of the project cost, along with approved applicants in regional, rural or remote areas,” he said.
“Other eligible partnerships will be able to apply for up to 50% of their project’s cost.”
Mr Beattie said obesity and disadvantage often went hand-in-hand and priority in the grants program would be given to initiatives targeting identified areas of need.
These include Queenslanders:
o with low incomes, disabilities, transport and access issues;
o who are culturally and linguistically diverse;
o who live in rural and remote locations; or
o who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport Andrew Fraser said grant applications would close on December 15 and the first projects were expected to start in March 2007.
Mr Fraser said there was any number of projects that could be eligible for grants, including:
o improving the local supply of fresh food and vegetables, particularly in remote areas and Indigenous communities;
o increasing the number of workplaces encouraging healthy eating and physical activity through their policies and programs;
o increasing access to shared play areas, as part of a broader physical activity program; and
o encouraging people to get out of their cars and do more walking and cycling.
“The core message from the Obesity Summit was the need to create an environment where healthier choices are easier choices,” Mr Fraser said.
“We need to ensure that children and adults are able to eat better and get active wherever they live, work and play.”
He said the program was another important step towards that goal and built on the many other initiatives the Beattie Government had put in place, including the:
o Go for 2 and 5 fruit and vegetable campaign;
o Eat Well, Be Active Healthy Kids for Life action plan;
o Get Active Queensland Children and Young People strategy;
o Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drinks Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools;
o Safe and Healthy Schools initiative; and
o TravelSmart initiatives.
“There are no magic bullets,” Mr Fraser said.
“Beating obesity will require a multi-faceted approach involving every part of the community and every aspect of our lives.
“This program recognises that the people best placed to identify local problems and deliver local solutions are the local communities themselves.”
Further information on the Eat Well, Be Active Queensland Community Partnerships Grants Program is available at http://www.qld.gov.au/communitypartnershipsgrant
MEDIA CONTACTS: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874
Mr Beattie said the State Government initiative would provide $10 million in grants over three years, including $3 million this financial year with applications opening today (October 17).
“Obesity is now the single biggest health issue confronting the western world,” Mr Beattie said.
“In Queensland, two in three males and one in two females are overweight and, of those, around 650,000 adults and 25,000 children are clinically obese,” he said.
“This is already placing a huge strain on our health system. People who are overweight are at a much greater risk of developing serious medical conditions such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gallbladder disease, depression and certain kinds of cancer.”
Mr Beattie said the Government is committed to helping Queenslanders beat the obesity epidemic, but he warned this was not a fight it could win alone.
“It will require a concerted community effort involving families, schools, health professionals, sports groups, urban planners, food producers, retailers, advertisers, employers and the media, working in partnership with Government,” he said.
“That’s why we held the Queensland Obesity Summit in May to increase public awareness about this community problem, to encourage collaboration and identify how best to move forward.
“At the time we announced a $21 million package of initiatives to help Queenslanders improve their nutrition and get more active.
“Eat Well, Be Active is the major recipient of funding and the name of the game is partnerships.
“These grants will encourage our councils, schools, childcare centres, sports clubs, Indigenous organisations and other community groups to work together and deliver their own obesity-fighting initiatives at the local level.”
Mr Beattie said approved partnership applications would receive grants of up to $50,000.
“Schools and Indigenous community organisations can receive up to 75% of the project cost, along with approved applicants in regional, rural or remote areas,” he said.
“Other eligible partnerships will be able to apply for up to 50% of their project’s cost.”
Mr Beattie said obesity and disadvantage often went hand-in-hand and priority in the grants program would be given to initiatives targeting identified areas of need.
These include Queenslanders:
o with low incomes, disabilities, transport and access issues;
o who are culturally and linguistically diverse;
o who live in rural and remote locations; or
o who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport Andrew Fraser said grant applications would close on December 15 and the first projects were expected to start in March 2007.
Mr Fraser said there was any number of projects that could be eligible for grants, including:
o improving the local supply of fresh food and vegetables, particularly in remote areas and Indigenous communities;
o increasing the number of workplaces encouraging healthy eating and physical activity through their policies and programs;
o increasing access to shared play areas, as part of a broader physical activity program; and
o encouraging people to get out of their cars and do more walking and cycling.
“The core message from the Obesity Summit was the need to create an environment where healthier choices are easier choices,” Mr Fraser said.
“We need to ensure that children and adults are able to eat better and get active wherever they live, work and play.”
He said the program was another important step towards that goal and built on the many other initiatives the Beattie Government had put in place, including the:
o Go for 2 and 5 fruit and vegetable campaign;
o Eat Well, Be Active Healthy Kids for Life action plan;
o Get Active Queensland Children and Young People strategy;
o Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drinks Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools;
o Safe and Healthy Schools initiative; and
o TravelSmart initiatives.
“There are no magic bullets,” Mr Fraser said.
“Beating obesity will require a multi-faceted approach involving every part of the community and every aspect of our lives.
“This program recognises that the people best placed to identify local problems and deliver local solutions are the local communities themselves.”
Further information on the Eat Well, Be Active Queensland Community Partnerships Grants Program is available at http://www.qld.gov.au/communitypartnershipsgrant
MEDIA CONTACTS: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874