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The Victorian Government has announced more than $641,000 for new ‘innovative behaviour’ trials in some Victorian Government schools, which will test the most effective ways to encourage adolescents to do more physical activity and maintain healthy habits for life.

Regional Arts Victoria is one of four organisations to successfully secure a grant across three key areas – quality school sport, active travel, and active recreation – to help address declining physical activity rates among secondary school students through their Circus Active program.

Other sporting and community organisations who will be supported to do this research include Victorian YMCA Community Programming (Quality School Sport), Cancer Council Victoria (Active Travel) and GippSport Inc (Active Recreation).

As part of the Active Schools initiative, the State Government earlier this year launched Get Your Move On, a campaign encouraging young people aged five to 18 years to get 15 minutes of physical activity, four times a day.

Victorian Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins advised “regular physical activity makes a huge difference to young people’s mental and physical health as well as their educational outcomes.”

The Victorian Government’s $45.4 million Active Schools initiative to give Victorian children the skills, confidence and motivation to be active for life has seen 96 Victorian schools receive an Active Schools grant this year.

One of the 96 schools to receive funding is Ardeer South Primary School which has been transformed into a hive of football activity – using its grant to completely resurface the school oval and install new goal posts so children can play AFL both during and after school, and allowing the school to compete in interschool AFL competitions.

The school has also partnered with the Western Bulldogs Friendly Schools program and built a strong link with the Sunshine Heights Football Club, helping to flood the club’s junior ranks with new players.

On top of their Active Schools grant, in the past year Ardeer South Primary School has also received two Physical Education and sports funding boosts to increase their school’s physical education budget.

Minister Hutchins added “we’re thrilled to celebrate Active Schools funding recipients – I want to congratulate all the successful schools for their work to keep young Victorians active, fit and healthy.”

Image top: Credit: Regional Arts Victoria; image above Ardeer South Primary School

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