Physical Activity and Healthy Eating
Hunter New England has the highest levels of obesity and cardiovascular illness in NSW. Hunter New England Population Health aims to reverse this by promoting the benefits of moderate physical activity to children and adults. They include improvements in mental health, social benefits and the prolonging of life.
Poor nutrition is starting to rival tobacco use as the greatest contributor to preventable disease in Australian communities. This is coupled with the emergence of a childhood obesity epidemic, revealing up to 1 in 4 children are overweight or obese.
Hunter New England Population Health aims to reverse these trends through programs that address barriers to healthy eating for adults and children in the area.
For Adults
Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)
Find information about NSW Government programs and services available to support people to eat healthily and be more active.
To find out more visit Healthy Eating Active Living.
Staying physically active is the single most important thing you can do to stay fit and independent, as you get older. Age is no barrier, research shows that exercise, at any age, is worth the effort.
Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge
Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge is a community led healthy lifestyle and weight loss challenge for Aboriginal communities. It aims to motivate Aboriginal people to manage their lifestyle-related risk factors for chronic disease and reduce prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Get Healthy
Get Healthy is a free telephone based coaching service which can help provide you with the support and motivation you need to reach your own healthy lifestyle goals.
Active Living for Over 50’s
Active and Healthy
Staying physically active is the single most important thing you can do to stay fit and independent, as you get older. Age is no barrier, research shows that exercise, at any age, is worth the effort.
For Children
Good for Kids. Good for Life
The Team
Our experienced team are from a range health and education related backgrounds and are passionate and dedicated to improving the healthy lifestyle habits of children across the region.
Cultural Consultation
The program includes consultation with Aboriginal communities across the region to determine the best and most culturally appropriate ways of reaching Aboriginal families with health messages.
Find out more about the program, on this website, contact our free information line on (02) 4924 6499, or send us an email at HNELHD-goodforkids@health.nsw.gov.au.
Live Life Well @ School
Live Life Well @ School is a collaborative initiative between NSW Ministry of Health and the school sectors in NSW. The NSW Department of Education, the Association of Independent Schools of NSW and the Catholic Schools NSW all support schools to engage with Live Life Well @ School, through a variety of resources and professional learning opportunities. Live Life Well @ School is supported in NSW primary schools to promote healthy eating and physical activity to students.
The program aims to:
- get more students, more active, more often
- focus on healthy eating habits.
Your Good for Kids Project Officer can provide further information and support for your school.
Munch and Move
Munch & Move supports the healthy development of children birth to 5 years by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and reduced small screen time. The program offers training and resources to educators working in NSW early childhood education and care services.
Go4Fun
Go4Fun is a free 10-week program led by trained health professionals, for NSW kids aged 7-13 and their families. It's a great way for kids to get fit through play and to help them feel more confident and boost their self-esteem.
School Canteens
School canteens have an important role to play in providing healthy food and drink choices for students.
A healthy school canteen supports a 'whole-of-school' approach to student health and wellbeing, and reinforces healthy eating messages taught in the classroom.
The NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy, launched in February 2017, supports a culture of healthy eating in school by:
- promoting and increasing student access to healthier foods and drinks
- decreasing student access to less healthy food and drinks
- supporting water as a drink of choice
- making a healthy choice an easy choice
- Do all NSW schools need to meet the Strategy?
The NSW Healthy School Canteens Strategy applies to all NSW Government schools (primary, secondary and central schools) with a canteen. The NSW Department of Education's commitment to supporting the provision of healthy food in public schools is reflected in the department's Nutrition in Schools Policy.
SWAP IT Lunchbox Program
SWAP IT is a new healthy lunchbox program developed by dietitians from the Good for Kids Team.
SWAP IT aims to support parents and carers to swap what is packed in the lunchbox from sometimes foods to everyday foods.
By improving lunchboxes, we can make a huge difference to a child's daily food intake. Everyday foods help kids to grow and learn.
By swapping a sometimes food for an everyday food we are setting children up for the best possible mental and behavioural performance at school and at home.
First 2000 Days
The first 2000 days of life is a critical time for physical, cognitive, social and emotional health. What happens in the first 2000 days has been shown to have an impact throughout life.
The First 2000 Days Framework Implementation Strategy is a strategic document which will guide NSW Health’s implementation of the First 2000 Days Framework (PD2019_008).
The implementation strategy will assist local health districts and speciality health networks in implementing the First 2000 Days Framework, including providing information to assist them in developing their local plans.