Research

VicHealth initiates and funds a range of research programs focusing on increasing physical activity.

VicHealth is committed to allocating 20% of its budget to research. This is used to fund fellowships, research centres and specific grants.

In 2009–10 we invested $5.7 million in research and evaluation. Of that budget, more than $900,000 was invested in researching physical activity participation.

Research findings form the evidence-base upon which VicHealth develops its policies and programs. Importantly, our research findings indicate that many of our focus areas, such as reducing race-based discrimination and preventing violence against women, can be addressed through sport.

Recent reports

Come out to play

VicHealth, in partnership with Victoria University and the Asia–Pacific Outgames Legacy Fund, recently funded a report on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual sport experiences in Australia. The report, Come out to play , covered issues such as access to participation, focusing on inclusive and welcoming environments.

Understanding barriers to sport participation

This report provides an understanding of the barriers to participation in sport for particular groups in the community, e.g. low-income earners, people with disabilities and new arrivals to Australia. Download the report  from our publications page.

Key physical activity research findings

Some of the key findings from our research in physical activity include:

• A 2009 survey found that more than two-thirds of Australian adults were classified as being sedentary (34.6%) or having low levels of exercise (36.9%).
• Australian women of all ages are less likely than men to engage in levels of physical activity sufficient for health benefits.
• Approximately 31% of children aged nine to 16 years fail to meet the national guidelines for physical activity.
• People living in the most disadvantaged areas in Australia are nearly twice as likely to be sedentary (45.4%) as people living in the least disadvantaged areas (24.9%).
• People born overseas are more likely to have a sedentary or low exercise level. Children born in non-English speaking countries are less likely to participate in organised sport (46%) compared with children born in Australia (25%).
• While two thirds of non-Indigenous Australians took part in sport and physical recreation activities in 2002, less than half the Indigenous population participated.
• Only 50% of people with a disability and 28% of those with a profound or severe core-activity limitation take part in sport or physical activities or attend sporting events as a spectator, compared with 64% of people without a disability.

Source: VicHealth 2010, Participation in physical activity (research summary)

Using research findings

VicHealth aims to produce health promotion knowledge and apply all that we know from our research into every area of activity. This will help us to achieve synthesis across all our activities, and exemplify our work to the health promotion field at large.