The Canberra community is set to become more active, smoke and drink less and lose weight under the latest Healthy Canberra grants program announced by Acting Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Shane Rattenbury.
Mr Rattenbury said four community organisations would benefit from more than $1.2 million under the program, which targets rates of overweight and obesity and alcohol and tobacco-related harm, while promoting healthy active ageing.
He said the successful applicants are the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), Bluearth Foundation for its Meet and Move program, Warehouse Circus for its Circus for Health — Schools Spin Out extension program and Nutrition Australia ACT for its Nourishing Little Minds program.
“Healthy Canberra grants are a key part of the ACT Government’s commitment to preventative health and I am pleased to announce the successful community organisations in the latest funding opportunity,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The community organisations receiving this grant funding are not only aiming to increase physical activity opportunities and healthy eating for a range of ACT residents, but also address the prevalence and harm associated with other chronic conditions.”
He said as an example, FARE would be targeting the drinking culture amongst women aged 45–64 years through an online education platform and an awareness-raising campaign.
“These health challenges affect all members of our community and we need to be creating change in many different settings to improve overall health outcomes across Canberra,” Mr Rattenbury said.
