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Program summary

VicHealth have developed a program summary outlining the Healthy Sporting Environments program and how this program will seek to improve participation opportunities, increase the quality of participation and develop healthy sporting clubs across rural and regional Victoria.

The Healthy Sporting Environments program is a VicHealth initiative to support sports clubs to become healthier, welcoming and more inclusive.

The potential of sporting environments to promote good health through sport is widely recognised. In addition to promoting physical activity, community sports clubs provide an ideal setting for broader health promotion and reducing impact of lifestyle risk behaviours, positively influencing health outcomes of individuals and that of communities.

Building on the momentum and energy generated from the Healthy Sporting Environments Demonstration Project, VicHealth is investing a further $3.3 million to expand the Healthy Sporting Environments program throughout regional and rural Victoria between July 2012 and June 2014.

The aim of the statewide Healthy Sporting Environments program is to reduce the prevalence of chronic disease through community sports clubs, by adhering to minimum standards across six health areas. These include:

  • responsible use of alcohol
  • healthy food choices
  • reduced tobacco use
  • protection from harmful effects of UV
  • creation of an inclusive, safe and supportive environment for women, girls, people from culturally and linguistically backgrounds, and Indigenous people
  • injury prevention and management.

VicHealth is partnering with nine Regional Sports Assemblies to deliver club training, education and participation programs to community sporting clubs. Creating a healthier culture within community sporting clubs can lead to benefits such as a positive club image as ‘family-friendly’ welcoming environment, opportunities for increased sponsorship, and the potential for greater volunteer, administration, coaching and officiating services and skills.

For more information, email us at hse@vichealth.vic.gov.au

 

Contacts

PDF  Regional Sports Assemblies

 

Acknowledgements

VicHealth would like to thank and acknowledge the following organisations for their support and contributions to the Healthy Sporting Environments program: Australian Drug Foundation (GoodSports); Cancer Council Victoria (SunSmart); Australian Sports Commission and Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (Play by the Rules); Cancer Council Victoria (QUIT); Prevention and Population Health, Department of Health (Healthy Choices Guidelines) and Sports Medicine Australia (Smartplay).