Tasmanian Government funds youth fitness, health and wellness programs

The Tasmanian Government is providing $2 million over four years to the Student Health Initiative, which includes physical activity, food and nutrition, emotional health and wellbeing and drug education programs. This is designed to foster school and community partnerships.

The Healthy Tasmania Strategic Plan focuses on working with communities to reduce tobacco consumption, improve nutrition and increase physical exercise across the state.

Inspired by the Healthy Tasmania Plan, Hansen Orchards set itself the ambitious task of giving away 100,000 apples to school children across Tasmania. It recently reached that goal with students at Mount Nelson Primary School the target of their generosity. Hansen’s vision was to provide students with high quality eating apples in the hope it would inspire them to eat one more often, and perhaps even develop a life-long habit of choosing an apple as a healthy snack option.

Through the Healthy Tasmania Plan, the Tasmanian School Canteens Association has encouraged 160 schools to participate in the canteen accreditation program, with 72 schools having achieved accreditation in June this year and the hope to see all schools accredited by 2020. This program responds to the nutritional needs of Tasmanian children and encourages canteen menus that offer ‘everyday’ food and drinks from the five food groups.

The initiative aims to encourage students to change their habits by eating healthy foods and exercising, so as to set them up for a healthy life. It is also envisaged that this will also have a flow-on effect with their own families and communities.

Image of Hansen Orchards