Active Kids

'Active Kids', a new program to increase physical activity in children is being piloted by Fairfield City Council in partnership with the Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine (CHISM), The Children's Hospital at Westmead. The program will be officially launched at 12 noon, Tuesday 6 August at Prairiewood Leisure Centre.

The program has been developed in consultation between GPs from the Australian Medical Cooperative, Fairfield Hospital, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Fairfield City Local Government Area and staff from the Prairiewood Leisure Centre.

A number of players from the Parramatta Eels will be present to help launch this important initiative. Local children will also demonstrate part of the 'Active Kids' program.

It is a 10-week program for 6-12 year old children and will teach them to incorporate positive exercise and eating habits into their lifestyle.

The program will be conducted by CHISM trained staff at Council's Prairiewood Leisure Centre and includes an initial physical assessment of each child, an individually tailored exercise prescription, three one-hour exercise sessions each week, a mid term assessment and a final report for each child.

As part of the program, parents of participating children will attend four one-hour seminars with Suzannah Burrell, a paediatric dietitian from Fairfield Hospital, to evaluate the family's eating patterns and provide nutritional information and advice.

"Staff at Prairiewood Leisure Centre were concerned about the number of overweight and obese children we were seeing in the local area, so we approached Dr Robert Parker, Department Head, Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine for assistance," said Ann Cusack, Health and Fitness Co-ordinator, Prairiewood Leisure Centre.

"Dr Parker has had a long interest in childhood obesity and the health and fitness of children and we have been working really hard with him to address the issue of overweight and obese children in the local area."

"Together we developed 'Active Kids' so that all children in the area have the opportunity to participate in regular physical exercise in a fun and safe environment. We are delighted to be piloting such a fantastic program," said Ms Cusack.

"If the Pilot program proves to be successful, it will be expanded to other areas of Fairfield City and possibly across the rest of Sydney and NSW," Dr Parker said.

For further information, please contact:

Gilly Paxton
Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
(02) 9845 3568