Strategy to drive movement and tackle inactivity in Western Sydney gets industry launch

Delivering five key recommendations and four next steps to progress more equitable health outcomes through active lifestyles in Western Sydney has been launched at an industry event at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium.

Providing a roadmap to setting out how to achieve these goals, the white paper, Tackling Inactivity and Inequity in Western Sydney: A Systems Approach was launched at the WSYD Moving Symposium last Thursday.

The white paper, co-authored by David Burns, Dr Angela Smith, Professor Neil Perry, Dr Rifaie Tammas and Dr Rhonda Itaoui, along with the Centre for Western Sydney at Western Sydney University, highlights the significant barriers Western Sydney communities face in accessing and engaging with physical activity, sport and recreation, and quantifying how physical inactivity costs the Western Sydney economy approximately $1.5 billion per annum in health costs lost productivity and mortality.

Introducing the white paper Burns, Convener of WSYD Moving and founder and Chief Executive of Collective Leisure, stated “Western Sydney is grappling with a physical inactivity crisis, with over 40% of adults insufficiently active.

“In comparison, in other areas of Sydney less than 30% of adults are insufficiently active. Physical inactivity costs the Western Sydney economy approximately $1.5 billion per annum in health burden, lost productivity and mortality.

“Our report sheds light on the barriers faced by Western Sydney communities, preventing their access and engagement with physical activity, sport and recreation.”

The report also outlines a plan to create more equitable health outcomes through active lifestyles, with its five key recommendations being:

• Adopt a systems approach to combat inactivity in Western Sydney

• Prioritise a preventive health agenda centred on active lifestyles

• Address cultural and community-specific barriers to activity

• Invest in and activate spaces in the most marginalised areas

• Empower systems leadership at the local level.

The event also saw the official launch of WSYD Moving as a health promotion charity, with Burns as its Convenor and its newly formed board which consists of Lori Modde, Lauren Nagel, Dr Tammas, Bill Bellew and Scott Walters.

On social media, Burns described the launch as “a dream come true”.

Burns went on to thank the network supporting the Symposium, noting “it was extra special to celebrate this milestone with 165 attendees and a big thank you to our event partners and 40 amazing speakers sharing their insights on the day.”

Symposium partners included Western Sydney University, Centre for Western Sydney, WentWest - Western Sydney PHN, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Clublinks Pty Ltd, SydWest Multicultural Services, Parramatta Leagues Club, City of Parramatta, Sydney Sports Management Group, Reclink Australia, Western Sydney Local Health District, Western Sydney Health Alliance, Belgravia Leisure and UNSW.

Click here to download the Tackling Inactivity and Inequity in Western Sydney: A Systems Approach report.

Images: Delegates at last week's WSYD Moving Symposium at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium (top), David Burns addressing the Symposium (middle) and the cover of Tackling Inactivity and Inequity in Western Sydney: A Systems Approach report (below).