Collective Leisure host free online event to address health inequity in Western Sydney

Collective Leisure are hosting a free online ‘Western Sydney Moving’ stakeholder event on 2nd June – promoting a whole of system well-being approach to reduce physical inactivity in Western Sydney.

Attendees will include, people, communities and organisations, from every sector and place across Western Sydney at the intersection of physical activity.

The aim of the event is to bring together stakeholders to share perspectives about how physical activity and sport, could be used as a catalyst to address health inequity.

David Burns, Founder and Chief Executive of Collective Leisure will open the event with discussions on health inequity in Western Sydney while addressing the physical inactivity problem.

Professor Bill Bellew, Sydney University will spotlight Whole of Systems Approaches to Physical Activity Policy and Practice in Australia (ASAPa) while Lori Modde, Chief Executive Outdoor NSW + ACT will present on connecting the community to nature to improve physical activity.

Bryce Alley from Blacktown International Sports Park, Blacktown City Council discusses why moving matters and what prevents communities from being physically active.

Emma George, Associate Professor in Health and Physical Education and Justin Guagliano, Lecturer in Health Promotion, Western Sydney University spotlight professional sport as a vehicle for health promotion while also addressing challenges in Western Sydney with an overview of current projects.

The closing address will be delivered by Yusra Metwally, Senior Policy and Projects Officer, Western Sydney Community Forum.

Collective Leisure have identified the following problems which they are working on:

• Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk for global mortality

• 70% of children and 66% of adults do not meet the physical activity guidelines

• In New South Wales in 2020, 38.3% of adults aged 16 years and over (34.1% of men and 42.3% of women) undertook insufficient levels of physical activity, defined as less than 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity a week, or 150 minutes of activity, or more, over fewer than five sessions a week

• In Western Sydney Local Health District 46.1% of adults aged 16 years and over undertook insufficient levels of physical activity

• Life expectancy in the lowest socio-economic areas has stalled with an increasing difference in life expectancy of 12 years between the most affluent and deprived areas

Collective Leisure’s recent experience during the pandemic illustrated the extent of health inequality that exists across our communities; simply those with the least suffer the most.

They consider “the time is now to showcase the strength, diversity, sense of community and collaboration of Western Sydney”.

Collective Leisure is committed to ensuring the most vulnerable in our communities have access to well-being.

Full agenda and to register for this Free online event Thursday 2nd June 2022, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm AEST