An Australian Program Saving Parents Money and Tackling Childhood Obesity

The New South Wales Government in Australia has initiated a second run of its highly successful “Active Kid’s Program”. In 2018, the program saw families save more than $54 million in children’s sport, fitness & recreation activities. In a bid to tackle childhood obesity and make sport more accessible for families, the government eased the cost of living pressure on families by handing out $100 vouchers to be redeemed at sport facilities. 540,000 thousand of these vouchers were redeemed in 2018. The execution of this program means that every child in the state has the opportunity to be fit and active while minimising the barriers towards a healthy lifestyle.

In the UAE, health authorities estimate up to 40 per cent of the child population are either overweight or obese which can lead to detrimental long-term effects for the individual as well as the entire economy. Initiatives like the Active Kid’s programs can cause a very positive effect for the country’s wellbeing as well as the economic landscape.

Healthy lifestyles have also proven to have a direct influence on overall wellbeing which is one of UAE’s strategic objectives.