Promoting Involvement in Physical Activity

Who does what?

Who promotes PA in Australia?

PRIVATE SECTOR

LOCAL GOVT

STATE GOVT

FEDERAL GOVT

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

PROMOTION

Federal Govt. 2009

Federal Government

• The federal government founded and funds the Australian Sports Commission which has 3 aims:

1. To develop and maintain Australian sports infrastructure

2. To increase participation in physical activity by Australians

3. To encourage excellence in sporting performance by Australians – A.I.S

ASC INITIATIVES

Australian Sports Commission

• The AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT and the VIS are controlled by the ASC to encourage sporting excellence.

• ACTIVE AUSTRALIA was set up by the ASC to encourage Australians to be more physically active and to improve access to, and the standard of, facilities used by people in physical activity (eg aquatic centres)

State Government

• The state governments are essential to the success of the Active Australia program.

• The Vic Govt. developed the Active for Life program in 1995 with the aim of encouraging Victorians to participate in 30 minutes of PA every day. It is facilitated by Sport and Recreation Victoria and funds various organisations to improve access and opportunities for Victorians to participate in PA.

State Govt. 2008

Victorian Government

• Other Vic Govt programs and initiatives:• Go for your life• Regional Sports Assemblies• Surf Life Saving Victoria• Sports Development officer scheme• Better Pools• Vic Talent Program• Compulsory PE and sport in Govt schools – Result

of the Moneghetti report• VICFIT – Sport and Rec

Go for Your Life campaign

• In response to the increasing prevalence of inactivity, obesity and diabetes the Vic govt. developed the ‘Healthy and Active Victoria Strategy’. As part of this strategy they launched a $22 million program in 2004 called ‘Go for your life’

• It is a whole of govt approach that involves strategies involving: sport and rec, health, education and training and aged care.

• A collaborative strategy

Local Governments

• In this area it is the Wyndham City Council who is responsible for increasing PA in conjunction with the Fed and State governments.

• Local governments assist through the development and improvement of facilities and distribution of funds to sporting bodies.

Private Sector Initiatives

• There are many initiatives but all aim to increase the health and fitness of Australians whilst generating a profit. Many of these are supported by the government through the Active Australia and Active for Life programs. E.g include: VicHealth, ACHPER, YMCA, National Heart Foundation, Vicswim, Masters Sports, Private Gyms and sporting organisations (AFL).

VicHealth

• The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation is funded through taxes on tobacco and it distributes these funds to various sporting organisations (e.g tennis Victoria) to increase participation rates.

Strategies for promoting PA

• INDIVIDUAL APPROACHES

• Stages of Change Model

• Print and web based counselling

• POPULATION APPROACHES

• Environmental change

• Policy• Mass media

Individual approaches to PA

• These approaches focus on an individual making a change to their PA behaviour.

• Health professionals, health educators, medical practitioners and psychologists focus on changing individuals behaviours.

• There are theoretical models that help us understand factors and influences on an individuals ability to be PA.

Theoretical Models of individual change

• PA activity theories are really theories about individual behaviour change they:

1. Explain influences or determinants of PA2. Explain the relationship between these

factors (e.g beliefs, barriers) and PA3. Explain the conditions under which

relationships with PA do and do not occur (e.g time, place and circumstances that lead to PA)

Stages of Change Model

• This is one of the most widely used theoretical models in PA promotion. It describes the fundamental processes an individual goes through to change their health behaviours.

• E.g From not being active to being consistently active

• It provides a framework that classifies how motivated someone is or how ready they are to be PA.

Stages of Change Model

• In this model of behaviour change it is considered to be a series of stages that an individual goes through – a process of adopting and maintaining regular exercise is described through specific stages of behaviour change.

• You must know the stages and characteristics of each stage.

• Fig 2.5 Motivational readiness (Nelson)

Print and web based media

• Print materials promoting PA can be in the form of booklets, brochures and handouts.

• Some programs mail out info regularly to their participants – low cost and good for older people

• Web based media is becoming increasingly more popular – provides great info, can be interactive and can be tailored to match a persons place within the SOC model. Eg biggest loser website or personal training websites

Web based PA programs• http://www.jillianmichaels.com/publicsite/fun

nel/index.aspx?promo=C24B981D-7A1D-4AA3-9AC1-4DEA8B3F5831&opt=false

Visit Jillian Michaels website – has interactive tools, motivational sections and all sorts of tools for people to become more PA

Counselling

• Widely used approach to PA promotion. Could be a personal trainer, GP, osteopath, physio, fitness instructor or psychologist.

• Very effective method for promoting PA at an individual level

• Could also be delivered by phone.

Helping people become PA

POPULATION BASED APPROACHES TO PA

PROMOTION• Interventions that aim to promote PA

to large groups and populations.• Population based approaches

encompass the following:• Environmental strategies• Policy• Mass Media

Environmental strategies

• How does a persons environment impact on their ability to be PA?

• E.g’s include – installing showers in a workplace, providing footpaths and walking trails for a community, installing a new playground.

• Usually costly and require funding.

Policy

• Policies can be defined as laws, regulations, formal rules or understandings. At MacKillop we have policies regarding behaviour, smoking and computer use.

• Some policies affect a persons opportunity to be physically active. Think about the policy of no soccer whilst the ovals were out of bounds (last year)

Mass Media

• Using a medium other than personal contact or face to face meetings. E.g’s include: TV, radio, billboards, print media, commercials at cinemas, web-based interactive info, or a combination of the above.

• It has the potential to reach large numbers of people at less cost than one on one approaches.

• E.g GO FOR YOUR LIFE campaign

Mass media

Mass Media

• Can give information about the benefits (health) associated with PA and can outline the RISKS associated with non participation.

• Provides up to date accurate information.• Is usually positive and motivational

Quick Questions

• Give 3 examples of population approaches to PA promotion?

• What is a policy?• What are some examples of

individual PA promotion?• Where does the SOC model fit into

PA promotion?• What 4 groups promote PA in

Australia?

Go for Your Life

• Website – visit.• Great links to specific websites e.g –

diabetes, obesity and heart disease sites.• Good nutrition advice and related links• Gives contact information for sporting

clubs support groups etc.• You can sign up and you get a newsletter

and link to website each month• www.goforyourlife.com.au