The Victorian Government funding will pay for a number of sports programs which encourage physical fitness.
Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp announced that five local schools, and five more across the Goulburn Valley, were among 96 to receive an Active Schools grant this year.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate Active Schools funding recipients. I want to congratulate all the successful schools across my electorate for their work to keep young Victorians active, fit and healthy,” Mr Gepp said.
Schools to receive the funding include:
- Cobram and District Specialist School — $47,958;
- Cobram Secondary College — $43,900;
- Numurkah Primary School — $34,058;
- Strathmerton Primary School — $30,000;
- Katunga Primary School — $30,000;
- Ardmona Primary School — $34,058;
- Greater Shepparton Secondary College — $47,958;
- St Georges Road Primary School Shepparton — $34,058;
- Undera Primary School — $30,000; and
- Wilmot Road Primary School Shepparton — $34,058;
The government has also announced more than $641,000 for new ‘innovative behaviour’ trials in some Victorian government schools.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins said those aim to test the most effective ways to encourage adolescents to do more physical activity and maintain healthy habits for life.
“Regular physical activity makes a huge difference to young people’s mental and physical health as well as their educational outcomes — that’s why we’re investing in Active Schools to give every student the opportunity to find an activity they love,” Ms Hutchins said.
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 Victorian Government earlier this year launched Get Your Move On.
That is a campaign encouraging young people aged 5 to 18 years to get 15 minutes of physical activity, four times a day.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 invested more than $20.8 million to boost the Active Schools program and promote long-term health and wellbeing in generations of young Victorians to come.
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