We’re teaming up with Reclink to get 100,000 young people active

VicHealth, together with Reclink Australia, will deliver a major, multi-year program of work. We want to really move the dial to empower young people (ages 16-25) to get active in their community.

Through this program, we’ll provide new opportunities for young people, designed by them, for them. We’ll transform spaces in communities that are not currently being used to their full potential.  

To start, we'll be launching sites in 8 locations across Victoria in 2022, with a further 8 locations to come in 2023.   

We’ll create physical activities for around 100,000 young people, through 160 different sites – tailored to the young people in each area. And we’ll be focusing on regional and rural Victoria and outer metropolitan Melbourne and working with young people every step of the way.    

“We know how good getting active feels, but not everyone feels welcome or comfortable to take that step,” said Sarah Loh, Executive Manager of Future Healthy Group, VicHealth. 

“Young people have told us they want more places and spaces in their local areas to move freely and connect with others. We know that the past 2 years have been tough, and together with Reclink Australia we see an opportunity to reimagine what getting active looks like in neighbourhoods around the state.” 

3 in 5 young people said having access to parks, playgrounds, and public sports facilities, like skate parks or bike paths, near home had some or a strong impact on them enjoying good health. 

We also know that 7 in 10 young people aged 18-25 having nowhere near home to do the sports or activities they enjoy has had an impact on their physical activity. 

The VicHealth and Reclink Australia partnership will remove the barriers to physical activity. We’ll provide access to new spaces, more of them and more no cost/low-cost activities. 

We’ll support more young people to do the activities they enjoy, in spaces they feel comfortable in. 

The program will provide so much more than different options to move. Localised training and employment opportunities will be available to local young people.  

Reclink Australia CEO Dave Wells said, “We are excited to be working with young people across Victoria to ensure them and their friends are healthy and active, in partnership with VicHealth. We want young people tohave every chance to experience the joy of sport no matter their ability, fitness or skill level.”  

In 2022, VicHealth and Reclink will work in the following Local Government Areas: 

• Ararat Rural City  
• City of Wodonga 
• City of Wyndham 
• City of Frankston  
• City of Greater Dandenong 
• Swan Hill Rural City  
• Yarra Ranges Shire 
• Yarriambiack Shire  

In 2023, the program will continue in the above Local Government Areas, and expand into: 

• City of Casey  City of Greater Geelong 
• City of Greater Shepparton 
• City of Hume 
• City of Melton 
• City of Whittlesea 
• East Gippsland Shire Mitchell Shire 

To stay up to date on this major, multi-year program and the work we’ll be doing across Victoria, sign up to our Future Healthy mailing list.