Children's Physical Activity Foundation

On the first of April, Minister for Education and Training Mr Andrew Barr MLA, launched the Children's Physical Activity Foundation at Campbell Primary School.

The Foundation will be championed by Order of Australia recipient and dual Olympian Adam Pine and involve high profile sporting figures from the ACT's national league teams, providing encouragement to primary schools, teachers, children and families to become more physically active both within the schools environment and at home.

"The Children's Physical Activity Foundation, which I announced in August last year, will work to promote physical activity to children and to assist schools in the delivery of physical activity opportunities through financial support and the professional development of teachers," Mr Barr said.

Research support for the Foundation suggests that children who are exposed to physical activity at a primary school age are more inclined to develop the core motor skills and the healthy lifestyle habits which inturn lead to a healthy and active adulthood.

"Coupled with today?s launch I?m also able to announce the John James Foundation as the principal sponsor of the Children?s Physical Activity Foundation and welcome dual Olympian Adam Pine on board as our Chair of the Foundation.

"The Government is committed to providing a range of quality opportunities to encourage and support ACT schoolchildren to be physically active, and the ACT Government?s seed funding of $250,000 to the foundation is an investment in the long term future of our school children," Mr Barr said.

The Foundation charter will also encompass a Minister's Physical Activity Challenge. The Challenge will be geared towards encouraging schools, teachers and children to participate in 60 minutes of activity per day. At the completion of a 10 week block schools which have successfully completed the 60 minutes of activity on a daily basis will be rewarded with equipment kits and resources from the Children?s Foundation funding pool.

The Foundation Grant round will open on 31 March 2008 and close on 2 May 2008. Grants will be announced during the week commencing 23 June 2008. This will coincide with the Minister?s Challenge launch and allow successful schools to utilise grant money for the purchase of equipment for the Minister's Challenge.