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How to improve the grade | Resources for media | Publications

How to improve the grade 

Both the 2016 and 2018 long-form Report Card included Federal and State/Territory ‘Showcase Pages’ that highlight programs, policies, campaigns or initiatives in each region. In 2018 we thank the Ministers from Health, Sport and Education for providing us with the information for their respective ‘Showcase Page’.

AHKA Top 3 Priorities for increasing children’s Physical Activity in Australia

  1. All Australian families need to be able to access practical advice, examples and opportunities that will support children meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines every day. All physical activity messaging should include real ways that children and young people can incorporate more activity into their daily routines with the inclusion of parents/carers and siblings. These suggestions need to include a variety of activities that would appeal to a broad audience with varying interest and abilities and include both aerobic and strength-based examples. Families also need to be supported and educated about how they can limit sedentary screen time and how to encourage good sleep habits with a focus on early to bed and early to rise.
  2. National funding for comprehensive school physical activity programs that would support and allow for the following:
    • A national school physical activity policy that specifies that students need to be given the opportunity to engage in a minimum of 150 minutes per week of organised physical activity, with physical education as a core component. This should include implementation strategies and accountability for schools.
    • Every primary and secondary school to have a tertiary qualified health and physical education teacher that delivers physical education classes to all students and supports classroom teachers to engage students in physical activity throughout the school day. 
    • Students to be provided with ample time and appealing spaces during recess and lunch to engage in free and active play.
  3. National funding for routine and regular surveillance of physical activity and fitness (aerobic and muscular) of all Australians, including consensus on measurement methods among states and their government departments.

Other sources

The links below provide invaluable information with regard to: why it is important for children to be physically active and to accumulate the recommended amount of physical activity every day; how to assist children develop the tools they need to be physically active for life: and ways of incorporating more physical activity every day.

Resources for media

2018 Report Card media resources

2016 Report Card media resources

2015 Report Card media resources

2014 Report Card media resources

Publications

Blogs

Publications

2018 Long-form Report Card

2018 Short-form Report Card