Local sports clubs keen to make healthy changes for their members and community can now get access to free support from Monash Health.
Monash Health, working in partnership with City of Casey, is running a Healthy Sports Clubs program which helps create healthy changes at a local level by giving clubs access to one-on-one support from a health promotion professional across a range of health initiatives.
There are nine focus areas that clubs can choose from: Healthy Food and Beverages, Active Recreation, Responsible Alcohol Consumption, Preventing Drug harms, Sun Protection, Smoke Free Clubs, Injury Prevention, Inclusion, and Mental Wellness.
Clubs can pick an area they are already focusing on, or they can pick an area that they feel needs to be addressed. Clubs receive ongoing localised support and a suite of resources to help them along the way.
Casey mayor Susan Serey said local sports clubs were an integral part of the local community and Council was proud to support programs that strengthen clubs and create a positive and healthy environment.
“Children, youth and families spend a lot of time with their sports clubs, so healthy changes in the club environment can positively impact the whole community,” Cr Serey said.
“As most local sports are run by volunteers, it is wonderful to see a program like this which is free, allows clubs to work on projects at their own pace, and provides ongoing support to make lasting positive changes.”
Last year, Berwick Little Athletics Club worked on Sun Protection and implemented changes such as making sunscreen more visible at club activities and updating their Sun Protection Policy to embed sun-safe practices into the club culture.
Berwick Little Athletics Club president Dan Langelaan said they had previously been involved with Monash Health’s Healthy Canteens project, and given they are participating in an outdoor sport, improving their sun safe initiatives was next on the list.
“Monash Health assessed our current sun safe policies and procedures and identified areas for improvement,” Mr Langelaan said.
“It has helped Berwick Little Athletics focus on these important parts of our sport that are often seen as a low priority. I would highly recommend it to any sporting club that are looking to improve in any of the areas Monash Health offer.”
