$2.7 million to help fight obesity: Fraser

11 May 2007

$2.7 million to help fight obesity: Fraser

Schools, sporting clubs, community organisations and town councils today officially joined the battle against obesity with the announcement of the first State Government Eat Well Be Active Community Partnership Grants.

Sport Minister Andrew Fraser said the allocation of more than 100 grants across the state was a critical component of the Eat Well Be Active strategy, the key outcome of the government’s Obesity Summit held last year.

He said today’s grants for projects aimed at promoting healthier eating and improving fitness were the first in the three-year, $10 million funding program.

“When you consider that obesity affects the lives of more than 675,000 Queenslanders, it’s imperative we not only aim to help those children and adults already affected but use the program to instil better eating and fitness habits in our kids,” Mr Fraser said.

“If we can achieve that at an early age – through out schools and our sporting and community groups - we can start to develop habits for a lifetime.

“So, 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-busting initiatives at the local level.”

Mr Fraser said the grants announced today ranged from $900 to $50,000 and covered the geographical spectrum from Capalaba to Cairns, Toowoomba to the Torres Strait.

The grants include:

·$50,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to implement The Bush Tucker Nutrition Project, a program to increase nutrition awareness and the use of bush foods to improve health and wellbeing for the Lockhart River community

·$28,150 for the BundabergSpecialSchool’s project, Healthy School Community, to promote eating well and being active to all students

·$36,000 to CherbourgStateSchool for the Cherbourg Kids – Strong Smart Fit Healthy program, which will provide nutrition and health education to students

·$26,235 to AyrStateHigh School for a program to supply local fruit and vegetables for the school tuckshop and provide new activity and nutrition classes for students

·$50,000 for BirkdaleSouthStateSchool to help deliver a healthy eating and physical activity program for students

·$23,250 to TannumSandsStateHigh School for Active Kids, a program to promote fitness and healthy eating across several schools in the Gladstone region

·$41,963 for Roma Town Council to deliver a range of physical activity and nutrition initiatives for Roma including swimming for elderly people, indigenous programs and active school holiday programs

·$48,000 for Tin Can Bay State School to develop a bush tucker garden and an outdoor learning area

·$22,125 to BremerStateHigh School for the Moreton Traditional Indigenous Games, a program that aims to improve the general health of Indigenous students

·$47,100 for Home Economics Institute of Australia to deliver EduNation, a state-wide nutrition education professional development program aimed at primary and secondary school teachers

·$50,000 for North Queensland Sports Foundation to implement the Reactive-ate North Queensland program, which will promote nutritious snack ideas and barbecue meal options and produce a sports education DVD for use by teachers in north Queensland

The $10 million funding package supports the Government’s ongoing Eat Well Be Active campaign, which encourages people to make small, positive changes to their everyday eating and exercise habits.

For more information about how you can Eat Well and Be Active, visit the campaign website at: www.eatwellbeactive.qld.gov.au.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor/Chris Ward 3227 8825