What we do – Children’s Physical Activity Foundation

The Physical Activity Foundation works to reduce the impact of childhood inactivity, which can result in children becoming overweight or obese.

The Physical Activity Foundation promotes
healthy lifestyle habits to primary school
children.

We do it by promoting healthy lifestyle habits to primary school children. Our broad aim is to encourage all children in the ACT to be more physically active every day.

In particular, our focus is on inactive kids.

The challenge is that most inactive kids either don’t want to be more active, or can’t be, for one reason or another.

With the reluctant ones, we want to inspire them to be more active, by making it fun, not intimidating.

For kids who would be more active if they could be, we want to give the confidence and opportunity to go for it.

Some kids just aren’t physically cut out to be speedy and sporty. Others just don’t get the whole physical exertion thing. They’d rather exercise their minds, or burn their creative energies, or simply veg out. Others still are reluctant to join in physical activities for fear of failure, or embarrassment.

Whatever their reasons, the alarming fact is, many inactive kids are overweight or obese, or are at risk of becoming so.

That’s unhealthy and unhelpful for them now, and potentially a serious threat to their long-term health and quality of life.

Our mission is to help change that grim life outlook by persuading them to enjoy a more physically active childhood.

To achieve this, we

partner, support or directly deliver community physical activity programs and products
provide information about healthy lifestyle choices to children and their parents and carers (as direct influencers of behavioural change)
continually advocate to reduce the adverse health and social effects of childhood obesity in our city.

Our mission also includes promoting better nutrition and healthier lifestyle habits to children generally.

What drives us

The statistics regarding childhood inactivity and obesity are a powerful motivator.

Helping kids to avoid inactivity is our passion.

We keep a close watch on the facts and figures, and they are frightening. According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, around one in every four children is overweight or obese, and only about one in five is physically active enough. The 2007-08 National Health Survey results indicate that 24.9% of children aged 5 – 17 years are overweight or obese. 25.8% of boys and 24.0% of girls are either overweight or obese.*

The cycle of inactivity is a vicious one. Children caught in it reduce their chances of ever pursuing an active lifestyle, and increase the likelihood of facing serious health problems in their future.

Children who are overweight or obese also find everything at school more difficult. They are more likely to be tired, get breathless on exertion, and be intolerant of heat. Their mental energy diminishes and their schoolwork suffers. When they can no longer participate in activities, their self-esteem drops and they begin to dislike their body image. They then become the target for teasing and bullying.

It’s a depressing and debilitating start out in life, and no child deserves it.

Helping kids avoid it is our passion and purpose.

^{* Statistics from}^{Deparment of Health and Ageing}^.

What inspires us

Seeing our kids healthier and happier makes our spirits soar. Nothing inspires us more than watching kids having fun and getting fitter at the same time.

We're inspired by seeing our kids get healthier
and happier.

We’re also inspired by others with the same passion we have, who are helping us get more kids more active, more often.

And it’s not just the kids who need to be more active.

We’re all about activity, it’s our middle name after all … and our mantra. The more active we are in promoting the cause, the more forces we can mobilise to help fight the battle against childhood inactivity and obesity levels.

We all have to do more, because there is a huge task ahead in convincing more kids to be more active, more often.

We know there are many community organisations and corporate businesses who want to make a difference to our kids’ futures, to play their part. Through strong corporate values and beliefs, they want to help fight and defeat the childhood inactivity and obesity epidemic.

They are vital to the task ahead, and we welcome their commitment and support. The more actively involved they are the better. And the more they’ll inspire others to answer the call to action and take up the fight.

What we stand for

Through strong leadership, good governance and passion for our role, the Physical Activity Foundation works to generate community, corporate and government action in combating childhood inactivity and obesity.

Our Patron Andrew Barr, MLA and Chairman
of our Board, Adam Pine present ACT
students with achievement awards.

We do it by

supporting quality programs and products
becoming part of research partnerships and
influencing community decision making and public policy.

The Foundation began in 2008 as an administrative unit of the Australian Capital Territory government to promote healthy lifestyle habits to primary school children. In July 2010 we gained independence and a new identity as the not-for-profit organisation, the Physical Activity Foundation Limited.

Since the inception of the administrative unit in 2008, the activities of the Foundation have been championed by a dynamic and skilled community board, led by Chair Adam Pine, an Order of Australia recipient and triple Olympian in swimming.

The daily operations of the Foundation are managed by Chief Executive Officer, Sue Marriage.