Cade Lucas
The Wyndham leg of a statewide program aimed at encouraging physical activity and improving the health and fitness of young people, was launched in Point Cook on Tuesday.
The $2.5 million Future Active program is an initiative from VicHealth that partners with local sporting clubs and organisations to attract young people and improve their physical and mental health.
Reclink West were announced as program facilitators for Wyndham and will work with clubs such as the A-League’s Western United and the Altona Roosters Rugby League club who were both awarded funding grants to help them deliver Future Active activities.
Western United received $9500 to help them offer weekly indoor and outdoor sporting activities to low income families free of charge.
Altona Roosters received $6000 to help kids to make friends while playing rugby league, a sport especially popular among Pasifika people in western suburbs.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said tailoring activities for specific communities was a key aspect of the Future Active program.
“We’re implementing programs like flexible rugby for young people from the Pasifika community, kick boxing and material arts class for young girls, including from the local Muslim community and flexible basketball at the Point Cook Shopping Centre,” Dr Demaio said.
“The idea is that we work with Reclink to co-design free programs with young people that young people actually want.”
Along with designing activities and programs that match the interests of Wyndham’s youth, Dr Demaio said Future Active was adopting an innovative approach to find spaces where these activities can take place.
“Were activating 160 under-utilised spaces across 16 local government areas of which Wyndham is one.
It could be an existing basketball court that ‘s not being used, a school during school holidays, a community centre that young people are currently unable to access.”
Dr Demaio said the Future Active program would be particularly beneficial for Wyndham.
“We do know that getting active and socially connected is a big challenge for young people out this way (Wyndham) and coming off a few tough years as well. So the opportunity to co-design programs with local young people that focus on health and well-being couldn’t be more important.”
