Page 453 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 13 March 2007
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Participation in these groups has grown by eight per cent since 2001. This growth in participation has not happened just by chance. It has been thanks to a concerted effort on behalf of this government. At this point I pay particular tribute to my predecessor, Mr Ted Quinlan, who was an active driver of this program and these efforts. Through the actively ageing framework, the government has provided support for organisations to provide physical activity opportunities for older people and to ensure that facilities better meet the needs of these people.
We have engaged with a number of organisations, partnering with them to deliver very successful programs. From 2004-05 to 2007-08 we have invested $420,000 in programs that promote physical activity among older people. As I have mentioned, the actively ageing framework, one of the key drivers of this increased participation, encapsulates many projects to encourage the participation of older people in physical activity.
One of the key projects is the Canberra active living model, or CALM, which is delivered in partnership with the YMCA. The CALM program has expanded in recent years from one pilot program in Hackett, with around 100 participants, to a situation in which we currently have six locations in operation across the territory—Hackett, Kippax, Curtin, Weston Creek, Kaleen and Kambah. In 2005-06 there were 540 participants in the CALM program, and the program has achieved a retention rate of 65 per cent. Forty per cent of the participants have reported that they continued with increased levels of physical activity even after their formal involvement with the program had concluded. This program has demonstrated great success.
In partnership with the YMCA, we have also established the Canberra senior sports carnival. This carnival had more than 200 participants last year. I think that it is fair to say that the sport and recreation industry is now much more aware of the need to consider the needs and requirements of older people in their program development and delivery. We have a joint aim now to ensure lifelong participation in physical activity. Many sports have thriving competitions for seniors, and these competitions demonstrate that our involvement in sport and recreation activities need not end when we slow down ever so slightly.
As members may be aware, I announced yesterday a second round of sports grants funding. These grants represent a further investment in increasing the participation of specific target groups, including senior citizens. More than $75,000 will be available to organisations. Applications are open until 20 April, looking at projects between $1,000 and $5,000 to be funded. I am looking forward to seeing a broad range of applications and I will be announcing in May the names of the successful recipients of this second round of sports grants. Overall, the government has achieved a fantastic result in increasing participation by people aged 55 and over. It is something that we intend to continue to build on.
Mr Smyth: Not true. All the key categories have declined.
MR BARR: The second round of grants targeted specifically in these areas shows again the government’s commitment to ensuring active participation in community and sporting activities for senior citizens well into the future.
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