Cranbourne West Primary School students show off their healthy eating habits. In front are Madison, Jess and Bronwyn.
CASEY kids will be among the first in the state to benefit from a new initiative set to tackle childhood obesity.
Last Friday Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the State Government’s new Kids – Go for your Life award program was part of an $87 million anti-obesity campaign.
The program supports and awards primary schools and early childhood services such as family day care schemes, childcare centres and kindergartens.
Ms Pike said program staff had been working with schools and early childhood services across Casey to help them take up the challenge to fight childhood obesity by striving for the new award.
With the booming child population in Casey, she said it was important that the government encouraged healthy lifestyles.
Debney Meadows Primary School in Flemington recently became the first school to receive a Kids – Go for your Life award.
Ms Pike said she hoped Casey primary schools and early childhood services would also support the program.
“This will kick-start a state-wide campaign to help all primary schools and early childhood services find better ways for our kids to remain healthy and avoid obesity,” Ms Pike said.
To receive the Kids – Go for your Life award, schools and early childhood services need to promote water consumption, increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, decrease consumption of high-energy foods and drinks, increase active transport, increase active play/physical activity and decrease screen-watching time.
Cranbourne West Primary School has already signed up with the program.
School principal Andrew Bergmeier said the school had already introduced many healthy measures.
These include having water bottles on each student’s desk, eating fruit at recess and reviewing the school’s canteen menu.
Mr Bergmeier said the school’s healthy habits fitted in well with the Go for your Life program.
He said having water at hand and eating fresh fruit kept students hydrated, while keeping their energy levels up and boosting concentration.
Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky said the innovative program followed the recent announcement that sugary soft drinks would be phased out of public schools by the end of the year, with water consumption a key element of the new program.
The program is open to all Victorian primary schools and early childhood services. Schools and services can register online at goforyourlife.vic.gov.au or call 1300 73 98 99.
The program is managed by Diabetes Australia-Vic and The Cancer Council Victoria and supported by the State Government.
