QLD State Budget continues to support physical activity

The 2019-20 Queensland Budget was tabled in State Parliament yesterday, 11 June 2019. Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is in support of the Queensland Government taking a proactive stance in encouraging preventative health initiatives and physical activity participation by Queenslanders.

This Queensland Budget includes the establishment of a Health & Wellbeing Queensland statutory body with $158.6m allocated over four years. This body will contribute to improving the health and well-being of the Queensland population by reducing health inequity and addressing the burden of chronic diseases through targeting risk factors such as poor nutrition, low physical activity and obesity.

“Participation in physical activity is vital for the health and well-being of the community. ESSA welcomes the establishment of this statutory body and advocates representation and input from a wide variety of stakeholders within the health, physical activity and sport sectors,” says Katie Lyndon, ESSA’s Policy and Practice Innovation Manager.

The Budget also outlines $25.2m over four years for the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle program which focuses on reducing risk factors for chronic disease, obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"Recently ESSA launched its Reconciliation Action Plan, which aims to further support ESSA and exercise and sports science professional’s meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” adds Ms. Lyndon.

“We hope that this budget funding will be a positive step forward in helping to close the health gap that exists between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the rest of the Australian population.”

To view the full 2019-20 Queensland Budget, please click here.