Healthy Sporting Environments Demonstration ProjectKerryn O’Rourke, VicHealth

Linda Connor, Leisure Networks

Aims to reduce future burden of preventable disease ◦ by addressing a range of health risk factors in a single, large

geographic area in Victoria (G21)◦ via 100 sports clubs

Healthy eating Reduced tobacco use Responsible alcohol use UV protection Injury prevention and management Safety, support and inclusion for women and girls, Indigenous

people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds

VicHealth Leisure Networks, Regional Sports Assembly Program partners Reference group

Reach into the community Behaviour and environment focus Evidence building

• To determine what factors are required to instigate and sustain healthy behaviour change within sporting environments

• To determine what barriers impact on sporting environments’ capacity to instigate and sustain behavioural change, and strategies to overcome them

• To make recommendations to inform future investments

Healthy eating Reduced tobacco use Responsible alcohol use UV protection Injury prevention and management Safety, support and inclusion for women and girls, Indigenous

people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds

Achieve Good Sports level 2 accreditation Not sell or provide alcohol before midday on match days Display health promotion messaging of equal weighting to

branding and messaging provided by alcohol industry sponsors

One of the following strategies: ◦ sell spirits at an additional 20% premium on 2009 prices,

and full-strength beer at an additional 10% premium on 2009 prices, or

◦ only serve beer and spirits with an alcohol content of not more than 3.5%, and serve wine in 100ml glasses.

Clubs selected using a number of different criteria, including:

- Those which have both senior and junior members- Those who hold their own canteen or bar licence

The all of club response to standards will help to re-enforce and internalise messaging to young people about healthy activities

Primary prevention approach

Planning & Establishment Phase (Aug 2010-March 2011)— Reference groups with reps from G21 LGAs, partners and

stakeholders— Briefing sessions with clubs (Aug-Oct)— Summer Testing (6 clubs involved)

Implementation Phase (March 2011-March 2013)— 50 winter clubs/50 summer clubs

Range of resources and support mechanisms

Dedicated staff team ― 1 F/T Project Manager― 2 P/T Project Workers― 1 F/T Social Inclusion officer― 1 P/T Sponsorship Officer― Evaluation/resources/training/manual

Training from key partners - e.g. Violence Against Women, Racial discrimination

Online resource manual Ongoing partnerships - e.g. Quit, ADF, Heart Foundation Organisational support - Leisure Networks and Vic Health

Mindful of...— Volunteer-based— Resource poor— Changing membership— Established cultures based on exclusion and inclusion— Evaluation/resources/training/manual

Behaviour change takes time— 2- year period (2011-2013) gives clubs supported time for

implementation

Evaluation process - Throughout the life of the project - Clubs will participate in focus groups, individual interviews

and surveys- Information will provide an evidence base around the

barriers, enablers and strategies that make healthy sporting environments

Linda ConnorManager, Healthy Sporting Environments DemonstrationProject

Ph: 5224 9932 E: linda@leisurenetworks.org