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Question and Answer Tracking Details

2629 - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Hornery, Sonia to the Minister for Education
  1. What is the Minister doing to address the Auditor-General's report indicating that 30% of Government primary schools don't provide the mandatory two hours of planned physical activity each week?
  2. What steps is the Minister undertaking to alleviate the student obesity epidemic and ensuring participation in physical activity at school?
Answer -
  1. As Minister for Education, I recognise the importance of regular physical activity in supporting the health and learning of young people, and I am proud that the Performance Audit on Physical Activity in New South Wales Government Primary Schools recognises the exemplary nature of the Department of Education and Communities' curriculum based and extra curricula sport and physical activity programs. I also welcome the opportunity to review current programs and practices and make improvements where appropriate.
    A Departmental Advisory Group has reviewed and accepted the recommendations and an implementation plan is currently being developed and will be provided to me within the appropriate timeframe.
  2. With regard to student obesity rates the Department is a partner with parents in addressing this important health issue and it should be acknowledged that lack of physical activity is one of a number of contributing factors which also include unhealthy nutritional habits.
    The Department currently has a range of very successful physical activity programs such as the Premiers Sporting Challenge, Live Life Well @ School and the School Swimming Scheme. Additionally a suite of programs including Munch + Move, Crunch & Sip, as well as whole school messages such as Healthy Kids 5 Key Messages and Fresh taste @ School for canteens aim to improve healthy eating habits in children. Many of these programs have been developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

Question asked on 21 August 2012 (session 55-1) and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 107
Answer received on 25 September 2012 and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 119

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