Background on the Partnerships for Health scheme
Having successfully broken the nexus between sport and tobacco sponsorship, the VicHealth "Partnerships for Health" scheme has moved State Sporting Associations (SSA's) away from 'sponsorship' (of spectator oriented health promoting messages) to focus on a much more 'grass roots' approach that has positive health benefits for all those participating in sport and active recreation.
Benefits
of participating in sport and active recreation:
The physical benefits of participating in sport and active recreation
have been well documented, however, there are also many positive mental
health and wellbeing benefits which until recently have not been fully
realised. Belonging to a sporting or recreation club/group provides opportunities
for people to establish friendships, interact with each other and develop
a sense of community connectedness1.
Research on social networks has found that lacking social relationships
constitutes a major health risk, rivalling the effects of such health
risks as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and physical
inactivity. People who are socially disconnected have between two and
five times the risk of dying from all causes compared to those who maintain
strong ties to friends, family and community2.
Sporting clubs have an established place in Victorian communities. There
is potential to build on this strength and to enhance the role of local
sporting clubs in helping people to develop a sense of connectedness and
belonging.
Aim:
The scheme aims to facilitate (your SSA) to undertake a range of activities
to increase participation in healthy and welcoming environments by:
1.
Encouraging more people to participate in sport and active recreation
(for physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits) within healthy
and welcoming environments;
2. Increasing the sport sector's capacity to provide accessible, quality
sport and active recreation experiences for the diversity of groups in
our community;
3. Extending and strengthening research and evaluation about how to increase
participation in sport and active recreation and create healthy and welcoming
environments.
VicHealth has developed a range of outcomes to be achieved through the scheme that are grouped into 2 areas of focus:
A.
Participation
Through gaining, retaining or re-engaging individuals in sport and active
recreation, outcomes being sought by VicHealth are:
(a) increases in physical activity e.g. through involvement as players
or officials
(b) increases in mental health and wellbeing through involvement as officials,
coaches, administrators, volunteers or supporters.
B.
Healthy environments
Through providing a healthy and welcoming sporting environment, outcomes
being sought by VicHealth include the development of policies and practices
that:
1.
help people to feel included and valued;
2. promote practices which prevent sport related injury;
3. promote responsible alcohol management;
4. support smokefree environments;
5. promote providing healthy eating choices;
6. promote practices which prevent sun burn.
1.
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. 1999 Mental Health Promotion Plan
1999 - 2002, Melbourne, Victoria.
2. Berkman,
L and Kawachi, D. 2000 Social epidemiology Oxford University Press, Oxford.
last updated by Squash Logic: 26 June, 2006