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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-07 Daily Xml
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OBESITY PREVENTION AND LIFESTYLE

35 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). Which councils received Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) funding, how much did or will they receive, how will this program be implemented and what results are expected?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised:

In 2009-10, six Councils commenced the five year OPAL program and another four commenced in September 2010. The Councils participating are: Mount Gambier, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Copper Coast, Onkaparinga, Marion, Playford, Salisbury, Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt. Another 10 Councils will become OPAL sites, five in mid 2011 and five in mid 2012 bringing the total to 20 Councils over four years, with each funded for five years. Councils are chosen following a formal submission process.

Each Council to date has received $50,000 to use directly in their community. The Councils have matched this amount. The State Government has also provided two staff members. In total, Councils are receiving approximately $200,000 per year or $1 million over the course of the OPAL program.

OPAL is based on an internationally recognised program called EPODE (Together we can prevent childhood obesity). Like their French counterparts, OPAL staff work from Local Councils—the hub of communities. Already they have consulted with their communities to determine what is most needed to support healthy eating and physical activity.

OPAL promotes a new healthy eating or physical activity 'theme' every six months. The first was, Water. The original cool drink.—a replacement message for sugar-sweetened drinks. The next theme will focus on play, and decreasing electronic screen time.

This methodology is working in France. Results from EPODE are very promising, with significant decreases in childhood obesity in intervention towns. A drop of nearly 2 per cent has just been reported from 2005-09 in EPODE communities, compared with the overall level of overweight and obesity across France.

Over the coming years, OPAL will expect to see positive changes in weight status, behaviours (more children active more often and healthier eating) and greater understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. OPAL will pursue changes to the physical environment to make healthy choices easy choices.

Evaluation of the OPAL program is being guided by a high level Scientific Advisory Committee chaired by Professor Boyd Swinburn from Deakin University, a world authority on community obesity-prevention programs.

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