A Tarneit school is urging the state and federal governments to keep funding a world-leading preventive health program that is helping tackle Wyndham’s obesity problem.
Baden Powell College was the first of eight Wyndham schools to receive $5000 from the council’s Healthy Together Wyndham program to create an active school travel plan for students, staff and families.
But funding for the initiative expires in June.
The college was chosen because almost 80 per cent of its students live within a two-kilometre radius yet only 27 per cent of them walked, cycled or scooted there each day – before the travel plan was launched.
Since the plan was introduced late last year, 50 per cent of students – or 550 children and their families – have been ditching the family car on Wednesdays to walk or cycle to school.
Assistant principal Jason Vandy said the plan aimed to educate students about healthy choices, in and out of the classroom.
“Healthy Together Wyndham has walked side by side with Baden Powell College though the planning, implementing and now the reviewing process,” he said.
“It’s very difficult for schools to launch these types of programs by themselves, and to have that ongoing support has been vital to our success.”
Active school travel plans have also been launched at Corpus Christi Primary School and Alamanda College, while Healthy Together Wyndham is in talks with Iramoo, Bellbridge and St James’ the Apostle primary schools, Manor Lakes College and The Grange College.
It’s intended that the travel plans will reduce the number of Wyndham children who get less than the recommended amount of daily exercise.
Latest health statistics show just 43 per cent of children in the city undertake that daily amount of exercise.
Mayor Peter Maynard said, while the initiative was making inroads, it needed more time and more funding.
“Axing preventive health programs like Healthy Together Victoria makes no sense at all, particularly when it’s estimated that every dollar invested in preventive health saves $5 in healthcare costs,” Cr Maynard said.
“It comes down to the simple fact that prevention is better than cure.
“Ending the funding in June would be a retrograde step and a waste of the investment already made.”
