Program gets North moving
COMMUNITIES throughout the North are becoming healthier and more active thanks to a new program driving health-related outcomes.
Move It NQ, a project of the North Queensland Sports Foundation, develops strategies to promote physical activity and lifelong healthy behaviours.
North Queensland Sports Foundation program co-ordinator Megan Taylor said Covid-19 had exacerbated health inequalities and highlighted the urgent need to address obesity and chronic diseases in rural communities.
“The Covid response has evoked major lifestyle changes that negatively impact the chronic mental, social and physical health of individuals and communities,” Ms Taylor said. “The Move It NQ initiative offers a range of free or low cost programs for those in our communities most in need of support to live an active lifestyle.”
She said the programs are designed to overcome barriers often experienced with participating in physical activity including feelings of shame or prejudice, cost, time-poor and poor health or injury.
“Move It NQ collaborates with local councils and supcouncils.
ports them to deliver successful physical activity programs in their region,” North Queensland Sports Foundation chief executive Stephen Farrell said.
“The Move It NQ model is unique and is overcoming the barriers associated with delivering programs across a large footprint, ranging community
demographics and regional capacities. It’s doing the heavy lifting in terms of engaging those in our communities most in need of physical activity interventions.”
Mr Farrell said obesity rates have risen to pandemic levels, triggering the release of the 2022-2032 National Obesity Strategy.
“Synergies between the Move It NQ project and the 2022-2032 National Obesity Strategy are clearly apparent, and the North Queensland Sports Foundation is optimistic the project will attract much needed support to expand the project across additional communities most in need of physical activity,” he said.
Move It NQ was established in 2018 by the North Queensland Sports Foundation (NQSF), and is made possible by funding from Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN), and in collaboration with 24 local NQSF is a not-forprofit organisation, established in 1983 to deliver the NQ Games and has since introduced additional events such as the NQ Sportstar Awards, Western Games and projects such as Move It NQ.
The NQSF is a small team with 1.6 people co-ordinating the Move It NQ project from Isaac to Mount Isa and north to the Torres Strait.
Local councils and their dedication to the health and wellbeing of their communities creates the foundation for the success of the project.
“The NQSF acknowledges the support from our LGA members, all the individuals and community organisations who have supported the programs, and WQPHN and NQPHN for their continued partnership,” Mr Farrell said.
“The centrally managed approach to program delivery allows for the support and input of all stakeholders to be leveraged across the region maximising the positive health and wellbeing outcomes of our communities.”