Communities exercise initiative for Healthy Queensland Awards

Social wheelchair basketball, a permaculture garden and football bootcamps are among the many initiatives vying for the state’s inaugural Healthy Queensland Awards.

Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson have reminded Queenslanders that entries close on 27 March 2009.

“The Awards offer prize money of up to $1 million for communities, $500,000 for schools and $100,000 for workplaces,” said Ms Bligh.

“I urge communities, schools and workplaces to become involved, and even compete with other similar groups.

“A bit of healthy competition will then create some real momentum to keep the program going and keep Queenslanders healthy!”

Nearly 150 community groups, schools and workplaces have already indicated an interest in entering the Awards including Wondai State School in the South Burnett region.

The school has implemented “Future Earth”, a program that even extends to growing their own vegetables in a permaculture garden, and ensuring students can see a sustainable future. This program’s motto is “you can live healthy without being wealthy”.

On the Gold Coast, NBL team Gold Coast Blaze, Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Inc have joined together to create ‘Rollerblaze’ - social wheelchair basketball for people in the Gold and Tweed Coast region.

At St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Corinda, the whole school community has taken up the challenge with weekly bike rides for the family, yoga for teachers, Teddy Bear Picnics for the junior students and fruit smoothie fundraisers for the Senior School.

And the Queensland Knockouts Indigenous Corporation has introduced smoke and alcohol free boot camps for young footballers.

Minister Robertson said the awards set out to motivate, celebrate and reward communities, schools and workplaces for helping Queenslanders live healthier lives.

“One of the key ambitions of the Bligh Government is making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people,” Mr Robertson said.

“Figures show hat we have plenty of work ahead of us as a state, if we are to make this ambition a reality.”

• Queensland is ranked worst in Australia for the percentage of men who are overweight or obese at 60%
• Our state has the highest percentage of male smokers in the country (29%).
• Women fare slightly better with 20.5% of females smoking in Queensland placing us forth in the nationwide rankings in this criteria.
• A total of 41.3% of Queensland women are overweight or obese and 72.4% say they do not exercise regularly (placing Queensland third in Australia in this category).

Winners will share in a prize pool totaling $1 million for communities, $500,000 for schools and $100,000 for workplaces to be used towards “healthy” infrastructure such as a swimming pool, a basketball court or a bike and walking path.

Judging will take place across 12 regional areas - Far North Queensland, North Queensland, Whitsunday – Isaac – Mackay, Central Queensland, Western Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett, Darling Downs, South West Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Inland South East Queensland and Coastal South East Queensland.

The guidelines outline four criteria that entries will be judged on including planning a program, implementing and monitoring the program, partnering with other community members, and plans for any winnings.

For more information, entry forms and guidelines, visit www.thepremier.qld.gov.au or www.keepaustraliabeautiful.org.au/qld.

Contacts 3225 2680