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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-03 Daily Xml
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Wellbeing SA

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:01): Can the minister update the council on support to improve the health and wellbeing of South Australians?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:01): I think I might be the best minister to answer that one, unless the Treasurer wants a go. I thank the honourable member for the question. The Marshall government was elected with a commitment to rebalance the health system and a key strategy in achieving this was to reinvest in prevention and health promotion. To that goal, we have established Wellbeing SA. In January 2020, just one short year ago, Wellbeing SA was established, and I congratulate the chief executive officer, Lyn Dean, and her team on their significant achievements over the first 12 months, particularly because those achievements were achieved during a global pandemic.

To flesh out the vision of the government, the government has released the Wellbeing SA strategic plan. Our long-term vision is for Wellbeing SA to contribute to a balanced health and wellbeing system that supports improved physical, mental and social wellbeing for all South Australians. In the short term, Wellbeing SA's work has included inspiring and motivating South Australians to be more active.

Last October, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to launch the first section of the Adelaide100 trail, delivered in partnership with Wellbeing SA. The Adelaide100 project aims to create a walking trail over 100 kilometres in length that will support South Australians and visitors to our state to be active in nature by walking comfortably from the beach to the hills, improving their own health while experiencing the many facets of our beautiful state.

Walking is linked to improved health outcomes, including a reduction in cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes and improvement of mental health. Walking is also a mode of physical activity that is equitable, as nearly all South Australians can engage in walking, regardless of their fitness level, financial circumstances or location.

Wellbeing SA has committed over $160,000 to the Adelaide100 project, which is led by Walking SA with support from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. The Adelaide100 initiative is working with the Kaurna and Peramangk communities to identify opportunities for connection to country, including interpretive signage, integrating Indigenous language into the elements of the trail and identifying a site for elders to teach young people to engage in cultural practice on country.

The Billion Steps Challenge was another opportunity to increase physical activity. The challenge is facilitated by the 10,000 Steps program, an evidence-based, whole of community, physical activity promotion program available across Australia. I am pleased to say that the South Australian community met the challenge, reaching nearly one billion steps in the 65 days from 1 October to 4 December 2020.

Wellbeing SA will embed the 10,000 Steps program into its ongoing work as a way of supporting and encouraging South Australians to increase their physical activity participation. I would like to congratulate the thousands of South Australians who participated in the challenge and contributed to South Australia completing one billion steps. I also encourage all South Australians to build more physical activity into our daily lives, supporting better health outcomes for themselves, their families and the community.

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