Local schools have been putting their creative ideas to the test to help improve the health and wellbeing of young people in their communities.
After some great and very competitive submissions, Council is pleased to announce Guildford West Public School, St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School, International Maarif School of Australia and Cerdon College as the winners of this year’s Healthy Kids Pitch competition.
The Healthy Kids Pitch required schools within Cumberland to get creative and active by putting forward their ideas on a program or project that promotes a healthier lifestyle.
The program was an idea birthed by Council in 2018 and has grown to reach 8,000 children in Cumberland, which now includes an active sporting clinic, a women in sports roadshow and a resilience program.
The initiative now runs as part of a broader health and well-being program across 40 primary and high schools and has been awarded the coveted national Australian Sport Recreation and Play Innovation Award in the Programs, Activities and Events category.
Mayor Lisa Lake said it was important that children and youth are taught healthy habits earlier in life to help develop healthy physical and mental well-being into adulthood.
“The Australian Early Development Census in 2018 told us that over ten per cent of children in Cumberland are developmentally vulnerable in areas of physical health and well-being as they arrive at school.”
“I am very proud of the continued work Council is doing with children and youth to embed positive long term changes for this generation. I know issues like excessive screen time and mental health are important concerns for many”, said Mayor Lake.
The four winning schools have received a $5000 prize to help fund the roll out of their great ideas to improve the health and wellbeing of young people. The winning ideas included an active bootcamp program to encourage students to get active again post COVID restrictions, a breakfast on track program that promotes a healthy meal to the start of a day, a sustainable community garden where students can access fresh fruits and vegetables and a bootcamp and breakfast program for both students and teachers run twice a week.
A special thank you to our sponsors; Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club, Lidcombe Shopping Centre, Greystanes Shopping Centre and Auburn Central for supporting this program.
