Joining Australia's Health and Activity Initiatives

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, has released Taking Preventative Action, the Governmentâs response to the report of the National Preventative Health Taskforce.
A summary of the initiatives most relevant to the leisure industry and an overview of the strategies that are planned to tackle obesity.
⢠The Australian National Preventive Health Agency, funded at $133.2 million over four years, will be the first national agency dedicated to preventative health. Coordinating national efforts on the lifestyle risks of chronic disease, the Agency will work across jurisdictions and portfolios on major health issues. The Agency is expected to be operational in mid to late 2010.
⢠$1.8 million will be provided for the review of the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand and the Australian Dietary Guidelines, which will provide updated information to guide nutrition and population level healthy eating advice. Further, the Government has committed $1.5 million in funding for the development of Australiaâs first population level obesity guidelines and for the review of clinical guidelines supporting health professionals managing people with obesity.
⢠States and Territories have agreed to report on progress in reducing the prevalence of unhealthy weight, smoking, physical inactivity and poor nutrition through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health. These mechanisms provide the Commonwealth with an ability to continue to monitor progress and assess performance in this important area.
⢠The Commonwealth Government has made available $872.1 million through the COAG approved National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health to address these risk factors. 50% of funds available to the states and territories for programs through the National Partnership (some $307 million) will be paid once they have demonstrated achievement against ambitious weight, physical activity, fruit and vegetables, and smoking targets.
⢠The National Partnership Agreement funds a range of activities promoting healthy lifestyles. To tackle the growing rates of obesity in children, the Government has invested in programs encouraging healthy eating and physical activity. Through the Healthy Children Initiative, the Commonwealth Government will make $325.5 million available for states and territories to implement health promotion programs and activities in pre-schools, schools and child care settings.
⢠The Government will also partner with peak employer and employee groups in developing the Healthy Workplace Charter, providing a national framework for best-practice interventions.
⢠The Government is making available $366.4 million for programs in workplaces. (Healthy Workers) and communities (Healthy Communities) supporting physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and consumption of alcohol at safe levels, with community based programs targeted to low socioeconomic communities.
⢠The Commonwealth Government is currently negotiating a Healthy Workplace Charter with peak employer and employee groups that will identify the principles of effective workplace programs, supporting the roll-out of effective activities. To complement these interventions, the Government will fund social marketing campaigns to raise national awareness of the risks of obesity and smoking. The Industry Partnership funded through the Agreement will build on the work of the Food and Health Dialogue by bringing on board the fitness and weight loss sectors to enhance the work commenced with the food and public health sectors.
⢠The Government has responded to the Independent Sport Panelâs report, The Future of Sport in Australia, by providing a $324.8 million ongoing boost to sports funding, which incorporates $195.2 million in new funding â the biggest single injection to Australiaâs sport in our nationâs history. The Government will addr

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