The Australian Open has been run and won, with inspiring performances by homegrown hero Ash Barty and the legendary Rafael Nadal. Now that the superstars of tennis have packed their bags and headed off, our focus needs to be on the younger generation who were watching from home.
Throughout the pandemic in Victoria, our kids have missed out on a lot to keep their families and communities safe. Missing out on local sport has been a big part of that, with competitions and training cancelled or restricted.
Homegrown hero: Australian Open women’s singles champion Ash Barty. Credit:Scott McNaughton
You don’t need Hawk-Eye to see that participation in physical activity, and the social connection it brings, is more important than ever for the mental and physical wellbeing of our young people. It also supports our social fabric by helping to bind communities. When my family came to Australia from Malaysia in the 1970s, all I wanted to do as a child was play sport. It was a great way for me to make friends and feel like I belonged.
Yet for many young people, there are hurdles that need to be overcome and these existed before coronavirus. When VicHealth surveyed 750 young Victorians last year, nearly 70 per cent told us they were impacted by having nowhere near home to do the sports or activities they enjoyed. Having access to parks, playgrounds, and public sports facilities, like skate parks or bike paths, near home was clearly linked to them enjoying good health.
Even when they did manage to get active, 62 per cent agreed that older generations assume young people are up to no good when they hang out together at public recreational places.
We saw similar results in a parallel survey of 750 parents of children aged six to 17. Nearly 70 per cent of these parents said having a limited number of public places like playgrounds affected their kids’ physical activity. About the same number were concerned about the costs associated with their child being physically active or playing sport.
When VicHealth surveyed 750 young Victorians last year, nearly 70 per cent said they were impacted by having nowhere near home to do the sports or activities they enjoyed.Credit:Steven Siewert
As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s vital we create a Victoria where no young person is denied a future that is healthy, regardless of their postcode, bank balance or background.
Above all, we need an emphasis on simply having fun again. These past two years have been tough for everyone, particularly young Victorians. Supporting them to get active, play and connect with new friends is something that will energise our society.
We must work with sporting clubs and local communities to listen to our young people and their families to understand what they need to be active and socially connected. Policymakers can support this with appropriate funding and urban planning. Without being too prescriptive, more public open space and safe bike paths would be a good start – especially in outer suburban areas.
The right kind of club environment is critical, too. When I was CEO of the South Metro Junior Football League, we successfully removed all unhealthy food sponsorships and exposure to other harmful industries, including rules about no alcohol on site during junior games.
Increasing participation by girls, young women and culturally diverse players was another focus for our league. We were able to grow girls’ participation by more than 350 per cent over four years. This was achieved by providing a safe and inclusive environment in clubs, including more female-friendly facilities as well as specific resources and programs to attract and accommodate girls.
We know that engaging girls and young women in exercise now will pave the way for lifelong healthy habits. VicHealth research for our This Girl Can – Victoria campaign underscores the importance of this, showing that more than half of Victorian women are not sufficiently active, participating in less than 30 minutes of physical activity on five or more days a week.
So, let’s see if we can ace this and create a happier, healthier future for all young Victorians.
Sarah Loh is executive manager of Future Healthy Group at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth).
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