Activities

Healthy School Canteens

"For years many public health nutrition advocates such as Dr Rosemary Stanton have been arguing the case for mandatory school canteens. Until now, there have only been guidelines, accreditation systems and award schemes. The NSW Government Action Plan on preventing childhood obesity includes mandating healthy school canteens. This will ensure that all Government Schools provide a canteen service that is reflective of the national dietary guidelines. This action single-handedly demonstrates NSW taking leadership in addressing childhood obesity, as it is the first state or territory to put such measures in place.” NSW Public Health Forum communiqué, November 2003.

Fresh Tastes, the new school canteen strategy is a positive step for the future health of our children and young people. ' It is a partnership between NSW Health, NSW Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education Commission and Association of Independent Schools'. From 2005, food sold in Government school canteens must be healthy and nutritious and consistent with the national dietary guidelines. Foods with few nutrients and more saturated fat, refined carbohydrate, energy and/or salt must not be sold on a regular basis (no more than twice per term).

Walk Safely to School Day

Walk Safely to School Day is an annual event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

The primary objectives are:

To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
To ensure that children up to 10 years old hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.

The secondary objectives are:

To promote the use of public transport.
To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age and which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
To reduce the level of traffic congestion.

Walk Safely to School Day is an opportunity for parents and carers of primary school aged children to promote safe pedestrian behaviour. Walk Safely to School Day will inform parents and carers that they need to closely supervise their young children, particularly those under 10 years of age, in all road environments, holding hands when near or crossing the road. The event is proudly supported by the Department of Education and Training, Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations NSW, Catholic Education Commission NSW, Association of Independent Schools, NSW Police, Transport NSW, Local Government Association, NSW Department of Local Government, Brisbane City Council Transport SA Bus & Coach Association (NSW) and the National Heart Foundation (NSW).

Tooty Fruity Vegie

Tooty Fruity Vegie is a whole of school approach to increasing primary school aged children’s intake of fruits and vegetables. The program has run in over 50 primary schools on the North Coast since it's inception in 1998. This successful program has been independently evaluated and is now operating at schools across Australia.

Tooty Fruity Vegie for Preschools

The Tooty Fruity Vegie program is now being adapted to suit preschools. A trial of preschools commenced in 2006 and the program also includes strategies to increase physical activity and improve fundamental movement skills. The program is now being rolled out to all child care centres across NSW under the new name "Munch and Move". For more information see Healthy Kids

Active Play Guides

Children love to be active and making physical activity a part of their daily routine is not only fun but also healthy. Encouraging children to be active when they are young also establishes a routine that could stay with them throughout their lives. Remember:

Children need at least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day
Children should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic media for entertainment (e.g. computer games, TV, Internet), particularly during daylight hours.

The Kids Active Play Guides are a list of physical activity options for primary school aged children in major North Coast areas.

Limitations Note: All of the ACTIVITIES in this handout "Kids Active Play Guides" operate independently of the NCAHS. The NCAHS will not be held responsible for events occurring within the independently operated activities. This guide is a directory containing an alphabetical listing of details of sport and recreation facilities and/or providers. However, NCAHS does not warrant or represent that the directory is free from errors or omissions, that the qualifications claimed by subscribing organisation are valid or that the published address of any subscribing organisation is the address at which a telephone call directed to the subscribing organisation is answered.

Parents should be advised to consider the following when choosing a program for their children:
Checklist for Parents & Carers - QLD Sport & Recreation. The guide can be used in conjunction with the Active Kids Are Healthy Kids - Department of Health & Ageing pamphlet.

ASK (Active School Kids) Project

An invitation is extended to primary schools which have not previously been awarded a Grant Opportunity for School Health (GOSH) or ASK grant, to apply for grants for physical activity projects using a comprehensive, whole school approach to be implemented in 2009.

North Coast Area Health Service Health Promotion, Aboriginal Health and the Cancer Council NSW are offering grants of up to $1,000 to help identify barriers and increase physical activity opportunities in your school. Increased physical activity has been identified as a key strategy in addressing increasing levels of childhood obesity.

Applications are sought for student identified projects which engage the student body and are driven by the student leader group. The focus is on empowering students to examine the whole school environment (natural, built, social and cultural) to identify barriers and increase sustainable opportunities for student participation in physical activity.

All previously unfunded primary schools in the North Coast Area Health Service boundary (Tweed Heads to Camden Haven) are eligible to apply.

Completed ASK applications need to be received by February 27th 2009. An application package is available here to download. If you need further information, please contact Margo Johnston on 02 6562 6066 or Margo.Johnston@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au