Hannah Hammoud
Up to 68,000 young people including those in Hume and Whittlesea are set to get a jump start on a healthy future.
VicHealth is continuing its partnership with community groups and organisations across Victoria to give 180 local ideas a leg up to create vibrant, active and connected communities of young people.
JumpStart! is a VicHealth initiative focused on building healthier communities through community sport, active play, art and food programs.
As part of JumpStart! round two, organisations across the state will share in more than $3.5 million to build communities that support the health of young people.
Hume hosted a diverse range of round one projects such as the Broadmeadows Basketball Association ‘Our Club Our Future’ project which works with a diverse group of young people, aged 15-24, to co-design and establish a junior basketball club of 150 members.
Among many other projects, the Upfield Soccer Club in Dallas ran ‘a healthy cooking’ project, transforming their club’s commercial kitchen to run regular, free cooking workshops for young people.
With the announcement of round two projects VicHealth’s future healthy group executive manager Sarah Loh said the exciting programs will support children, teens, young people and their families to reach their full health potential.
“JumpStart! round two will offer new activities for around 68,000 children and young people across Victoria.
“We can’t wait to see these programs come to life over the next 12 months.”
Among the new Jumpstart! ideas is Life Saving Victoria’s Welcome to Australia, Welcome to Water swimming and aquatic safety program for kids and teens from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Life Saving diversity and inclusion general manager David Holland said the 10-week program will educate young people about critical water safety and swimming to over 220 young people from diverse backgrounds across Melbourne.
“Following a substantial increase in some of the worst fatal drownings, our fun and social programs will increase physical activity, connect communities and build confidence for people to swim in pools and waterways across Victoria.”
Details: futurehealthy.vichealth.vic.gov.au/jumpstart-map
