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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 9 Hansard (22 August) . . Page.. 3145 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

We have seen evidence that shows that, over about the last 15 years, the number of overweight and obese children has doubled in Australia. We do need to do something now. We cannot keep going round and round in circles and getting nowhere. (Extension of time granted.) The program that we have put out for tender will provide information relating to the health and fitness levels of all ACT government primary students. That will help schools with the development of health and physical education curriculums and provide information to parents on the health and fitness levels of their children.

The successful tenderer would be required to prepare a school report with some analysis of results, including programs targeting specific age groups and fitness levels for schools. The pilot program will operate over a three-year period, with students being assessed each year to monitor their ongoing health and fitness, and the impact of any targeted programs.

There will be no cost to schools for this service. The successful tenderer will conduct the assessment program at the school and will contact schools to arrange an appropriate time for administering the program. The program would require only one or two sessions of class time per year. The class teachers would remain with their classes while the program is being conducted.

This program is in line with the Australian Council of State Schools Organisations' call for education authorities to provide physical education programs that include sports that develop fitness. Information gathered through this testing will assist schools to develop a program that targets the specific needs of their student population. Confidentiality and sensitivity will be paramount. The results will be based on large numbers of students, rather than on individuals.

There are a few misconceptions here. Parents, I understand, will actually receive an individual report on their child at no cost. There is some provision for more detailed reports, too, if parents or carers want them. Also, if parents have strong grounds for not wanting their children to participate in the program, for example, for cultural or medical reasons, their wishes will be respected.

Ms Tucker mentioned cost issues. There are a number of things, such as school photographs, that kids actually pay for, but in terms of the basic individual report, there might be a misconception there, but there is no cost. There is the option for parents who want more information for pay for it, sure, but for the individual report there is no cost. There is no cost to schools for the programs and the assessments that go on there. That is something that the department picks up. That is why we are going through this particular process.

I think we need to be sensible about this. We do not need to delay what is an important step towards better health outcomes for our children. I reiterate: these key stakeholders are actually already involved in the tender appraisal panel. Mr Berry's suggestions are better than Ms Tucker's, but there are still huge problems there, I suspect. However, if either of them get up, this could go by the wayside. At best, it could cause further unnecessary delays.

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