By Laura Michell
A Greenvale primary school teacher has signed on as a VicHealth community champion in a bid to inspire kids to get moving.
Mitch Leyton is one of 14 community champions, which VicHealth says are a diverse group of young people and parents from across the state who are passionate about creating healthier communities.
The champions will work with VicHealth as part if its Future Health initiative.
The Keelonith Primary School teacher said he wants to encourage children to take part in any type of sport that they enjoy.
As a youngster, he participated in basketball, tennis and cricket, but these days he is also a fan of yoga.
“I know there’s a lot of anxiety around joining a new club or new community, or even when you join a gym, you don’t know what you’re doing,” he said.
“But there’s so many more ways that we can be physically active.”
The $45 million Future Healthy initiative will invest in new programs over three years to support people aged up to 25 to begin to create a healthier future.
VicHealth chief executive Sandro Demaio said Future Healthy follows an incredibly challenging 18 months, particularly for young people.
“The ongoing impacts of the bushfires, coronavirus pandemic and social upheaval have continued to weigh on the mental and physical health and wellbeing of Victoria’s young people” Dr Demaio said.
“They have told us that social connection, access to healthy food and having somewhere near home to be active are incredibly important to them – so is having their voices heard.
“The first phase of Future Healthy is about listening – we’re asking people aged 18-25 and parents and carers to join us in creating the solutions together that will promise a healthier future for all. We’ll be listening and learning as you share with us what we need to do to make happier, healthier living a reality for every young person.”
