Page 1159 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 May 2006
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cardiovascular disease. This program encourages young children to play outdoors, to get fresh air and to exercise and have fun. As part of this initiative, the kids at play program uses a mobile play van and therefore is also able to strategically target areas or communities most in need. This program also builds on the support of community partnerships with the ACT division of the Heart Foundation, with the University of Canberra and with the ACT Playgroups Association.
The promising thing about this program is that it encompasses all the requirements needed to effect real change within our children. It is simple, fun, proactive and draws on the support of other community organisations to develop a lifestyle response to a lifestyle problem. It is encouraging that these same elements can be seen in many other health programs and agencies in the ACT. Tying in with this week’s Heart Week theme of healthy weight, healthy heart, the ACT government has a clear commitment to the implementation of programs that encourage a healthy and active ACT community and it has put in place a package of initiatives to promote good health in children, young people and adults throughout our community.
The Canberra social plan emphasises the importance of focusing on prevention and early intervention across the lifespan in order to improve the likelihood of positive health and social outcomes for everyone. The plan addresses the more hidden environmental factors associated with obesity. In particular, it has a focus on strengthening community ties and family structures, improving and supporting the emotional and social development of children, as well as providing improved support programs when things go wrong.
The government is also putting in place initiatives to combat childhood obesity, including advice and support for children to improve nutrition, increasing opportunities for children to participate in physical activity, and programs to improve eating and physical activity patterns for obese children.
Cardiovascular disease is a major threat to the health of our community. Apart from being the number one cause of death in Australia, this disease also disables sufferers by reducing their quality of life and thereby also reducing the quality of life of the community. While we are certainly going to have to live with the presence of cardiovascular disease for many years to come and watch its effects continue to touch those around us, it is encouraging to see that inroads have been made, and continue to be made, into both treating and preventing the symptoms and attitudes that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Mr Speaker, I urge the Assembly to recognise the importance of national Heart Week in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and its vital contribution to research into the treatment of cardiovascular disease. I finish by reminding everybody of the healthy red breakfast for heart day in the Speaker’s hospitality room, from 8.00 to 9.30 am, and encourage you all to come along and show your support for the Heart Foundation. I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Health, Minister for Disability and Community Services and Minister for Women) (5.40): I rise to support the motion brought to the Assembly today by Ms MacDonald. This motion correctly identifies cardiovascular disease as a major issue for our community. It is the leading cause of death and a significant cause of illness and disability in Australia and the ACT,
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