Complete
Commonwealth Department of Health
Australia
AHA was engaged to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of resources developed as part of the Australian Government’s Plan for Early Childhood and the Plan for Tackling Obesity. These resources were specifically designed to promote and support healthy eating and physical activity in children attending Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services such as centre-based care, family day care and preschools.
AHA consulted a range of stakeholders across the sector. We used surveys, interviews, targeted focus groups and consultations to gather input from large numbers of stakeholders, specifically national ECEC service directors, coordinators and educators, samples of participant ECEC staff, peak body representatives and ECEC parents and carers.
Effectiveness and appropriateness were established by identifying gaps and barriers, aligning objectives to other state and national initiatives, and identifying how the resources could be improved.
The final report’s findings were derived from the data gathered during these consultations as well as by reviewing key documents and relevant, peer-reviewed publications.
Details of the “Get Up & Grow – Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood” resources are available at the department’s website.
Our children’s early years are arguably their most important and establishing healthy behaviours from birth lays the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Nutritious food and regular physical activity supports the normal growth and development of children and reduces the risk of developing chronic lifestyle related diseases later in life.