14 June 2016: More than 20,000 students from across the ACT will use a University of Canberra developed resource to help them keep moving as part of this year's Active Kids Challenge.
The University's Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE) has renewed its partnership with the Physical Activity Foundation which will see its Physical Literacy Activity Yearbook (PLAY) offered to more than 800 participating classrooms across Canberra.
The University's project co-ordinator Richard Keegan said the PLAY resource which comprises 200 activity suggestions to help teachers prepare and deliver fun physical education for primary school students has proven popular with children and teachers.
"The most important thing we can take from this program is going to be our kids' health," Dr Keegan, an assistant professor in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Canberra, said.
"In Australia the cost of physical inactivity is estimated at between $9-13 billion to the economy each year, so if we can contribute in some small way to reducing that, we're improving budgets and improving lives.
"Some extra activity every day coupled with the knowledge of making better food choices can have a lasting impact on weight and many life-long health problems which stem from being overweight or obese."
University of Canberra research published last year found 25 per cent of Australian kids are overweight or obese, but a small change such as cutting the equivalent of one small chocolate bar and getting in 15 minutes of exercise daily could halve that rate.
The PLAY resource was developed by UCRISE researchers including long distance running legend and University of Canberra professor Dick Telford with funding provided by ACT Sport and Recreation Services.
"Teachers have great skills in class management, individualising learning and giving instructions, but research tends to show they are less confident putting them into practice during PE or physical education lessons.
"After last year's program we've continued to receive great feedback about PLAY and the Active Kids Challenge from teachers. It's a physical activity program for which they don't need a great amount of physical education experience to work with," Dr Keegan said.
Physical Activity Foundation chief executive Lucille Bailie reinforced the benefits of the continuing partnership to develop and deliver quality resources.
"Just 19% of ACT Primary School kids are meeting the daily physical activity guidelines, so the PLAY resources will play an important role in helping Teachers deliver quality physical activity every day," Ms Bailie said.
The Active Kids Challenge runs for eight weeks (25 July-16 September) in schools to raise children and teachers' awareness of the need for kids to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day for long term health and academic success.
Dr Keegan and Mrs Bailie are available for interview.
WHAT: 2016 Active Kids Challenge – partnership renewal between UCRISE and Physical Activity Foundation
WHEN: Tuesday 14 June 2016, 10:30-11:00am
WHERE: Miles Franklin Primary School, Alderman Street, Evatt, ACT
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Marcus Butler: 0438 477 810
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362