Healthy Weight Projects
For a complete list of major projects see our project list. For more information on our activities contact one of our Health Promotion Units.
| Live Life Well @ School |
Live Life Well @ School is a joint initiative between DET and NSW Health – focusing on quality nutrition and physical activity education programs in primary schools. It involves a series of free professional development workshops and access to whole-of-school resources and programs. This professional learning program aims to get more students, more active more often as well as providing a renewed focus on healthy eating habits.
The goal of Life Life Well @ School is to increase physical activity and healthy eating, and decrease sedentary behaviours amongst primary school students (aged 5-12) and their families, through school based activities.
We help to promote and recruit NSW Department of Education and Training schools to participate in the professional learning workshops. Schools that attend the training are supported, through advice, assistance and Action Grants to help implement action plans.
More information for local schools can be found at:
NSCC LiveLifeWell @ School
The following are 4 programs that are available to schools to support Live Life Well @ School:
| Crunch&Sip®: |
More information about this program can be found at: ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Live Outside the Box: |
Students are encouraged, with the support of their families and teachers, to Live Outside the Box for two weeks. This means turning off the TV and computer games, getting outside, moving, playing and being more active. It also means reducing the amount of less healthy foods and replacing these with healthier alternatives. More information about the statewide program can be found at: For local program information visit: A Minipassport is also available from this site for younger students. ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Q4:H20: |
Students are encouraged to choose water and reduced fat milk by completing a student card which includes messages for parents. The project is supported by providing teachers with information and support eg interactive whiteboard resources, as well as school participation awards and student prizes. This whole of school activity is offered to Stage 2 students. Discover more information and all the resources at: ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Fresh Tastes @ School: |
Health Promotion staff (in conjunction with Nutrition Departments NSCCAHS) coordinate and support local School Canteen Networks to implement Fresh Tastes @ School. Members share experiences information and knowledge, and gain support for implementing healthy food strategies and the general running of the canteen. For more information about a School Canteen Network in your area contact: Central Coast Canteen Network - Justine Gowland-Ella - ph. 43 494815 Hornsby Ku-ringai Canteen Network - Lauren Puglisi - ph 8877 5122 Lower North Shore/Ryde Network - email the Support Officer to join the mailing list Northern Beaches - Eve Clark - ph. 9976 9826 or visit the Canteen Networks at:
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| PDHPE Network: |
The aims of the network are to:
Workshops are designed to provide teachers with practical skills teachers can use in leading and promoting physical activity and nutrition. |
is a statewide program designed for schools to set a break to eat fruit (or salad vegetables) and drink water in the classroom. Students 're-fuel' with fruit or vegetables during the morning or afternoon - assisting physical and mental performance and concentration in the classroom. Health Promotion supports schools to implement the program.
is a two week challenge for Stage 3 (years 5 and 6) primary school students, on how to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. 
is a one week school/family based activity to promote the concept of healthy drinks to children and their parents/carers, and to support teachers getting healthy drink messages to families. 
The Fresh Tastes NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy is all about giving students across NSW a taste for healthy foods. It is a government-endorsed approach that helps schools determine the healthier types of foods that should be available for sale in their canteens. 
Schools on the Central Coast also have access to the PDHPE Network. | Go Active 2 School |
We are encouraging and supporting primary school students (and their families) to choose physically active and safe travel options to get to and from school with this project. A range of strategies are used to work closely with each school to develop systems that work for them. These may include developing Transport Access Guides (TAG), surveys and walkability audits etc.
GA2S in Ryde
In the Ryde area Health Promotion has been working with Ryde Council for a number of years, reaching many schools.
Visit the City of Ryde, for school Transport Access Guides and more project information:
GA2S on the Northern Beaches
On the Northern Beaches, Health Promotion received an NRMA grant to work with getting Go Active 2 School started at Narrabeen Lakes Primary School. Check out their Transport Access guide:
Narrabeen Lakes Primary School TAG
| Munch & Move |
is a fun, games-based program for NSW preschools, long day care services and occasional day care services. It supports the healthy development of young children by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and reduced small screen time (TV, DVD, computers).
Children have the opportunity to engage in skills-based active play and learn about healthy choices through a range of learning experiences. Parent focused support materials, including fact sheets provide simple tips and ideas for practising healthy, active behaviours at home.
The program is a joint initiative of the NSW Department of Health, the NSW Department of Community Services and The University of Sydney.
Our service works closely with preschools, long day care services and occasional care services to implement Munch & Move at their centres. This involves assistance with staff training, polices and ongoing support and promotion.
Munch and Move Training:
The Munch & Move program offers training workshops to educators working in the early childhood sector. Workshops are offered to NSW long day care services, preschools and occasional care services that haven't sent educators to previous Munch & Move workshops. If places are available, educators from services that have attended in the past and would like to refresh their knowledge or send new staff are welcome to attend.
The workshop can accomodate two educators from each service. It is recommended that services sends educators who will take a leadership role in promoting children's healthy eating and physical activity in the service.
If you wish to attend an upcoming training course, follow these easy steps:
1. Complete the online registration form: You will receive confirmation of your enrolment via email. ______________________________________________________________________ 2. Complete the online baseline survey: If you prefer to print and complete the survey offline here's a copy
______________________________________________________________________ 3. Complete the evaluation consent form: To complete your registration send the completed Consent Form to: Fax: 9977 7531 or ______________________________________________________________________ Questions? If you have any questions please contact Nicole Reece on 9976 9876 or nreece@nscchas.health.nsw.gov.au |
National Quality Standards and Munch & Move:
It’s time to join Munch & Move!
Munch & Move is a free initiative that fits within the new National Quality Framework. Implementing Munch & Move can help contribute to your service meeting these standards and outcomes.
Download our brochure to find out more:
National Quality Standards and Munch & Move
For more information on Munch and Move in Northern and Sydney Central Coast visit:
Read the latest local newsletter at:
Check out Munch and Move at the state level:
| Go Active 2 Work |
The goal of this project is to encourage and support active, healthy and environmentally sustainable forms of transport. The project focuses on active transport as a means of improving the health and well being of Local Health Network staff.
A major achievement has been the development of a Workplace Travel Plan for the Northern Beaches Health Service. It maps out a three year plan to influence staff travel behaviour towards a greater uptake of active transport modes. The actions in the plan are both realistic and challenging in their scope for the service.
Northern Beaches Health Service Workplace Travel Plan 2009-2012
Other major projects that come under the 
banner:
| Manly Hospital Bicycle Fleet |
Part of the process involves establishing and promoting end of trip infrastructure eg showers.
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| Transport Access Guide | A transport access guide has been developed to help Manly Hospital staff and visitors use active ways to get to the hospital |
| NSCCAHS Cycling Policy | A cycling policy for Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service has been developed to promote safe and supportive conditions and practices for NSCCAHS staff who cycle to/from work and during work. |
This project is establishing a bicycle fleet for staff to use to go about their usual duties where pactical eg attend meetings, instead of using a fleet car. Two electric powered bicycles have been obtained for the service.
Health Promotion has been working closely with Macquarie Hospital at North Ryde to look at making physical activity including active travel easier for on-site staff and visitors. A Transport Access Guide has been developed to assist staff and visitors understand the many public transport options available for accessing the hospital and its facilities.
Macquarie Hospital Transport Access Guide | Coal Loader Garden Project |
A Health Resource for primary school children, years 3-4
This resource has been written for teachers to be used within school and community garden projects. The resource provides 5 lesson plans on topics based on the Healthy Kids 5 key messages for a healthy lifestyle.
It includes curriculum links to the key learning areas and activities for the classroom, garden and community excursions.
The resource can be used to:
• support the planting of fruit or vegetables or the development of a school garden
• support sustainability and environmental programs
• reinforce and support the curriculum teaching within PDHPE
• link into the Schools Live Life Well @ School Action Plan
• reinforce other programs in the school such as Crunch and Sip
The Coal Loader resource has been successfully used in 3 primary schools in North Sydney over the last few years. It continues to be used by other school vegetable garden projects as a valuable teaching aid.
For example, the resource has been used in these Ready Set Grow projects:
Download a copy:
Coal Loader Garden Project Resource (3Mb)
The resource was developed through a project between Northern Sydney and Central Coast Health Promotion, Department of Nutrition (Royal North Shore Hospital) and North Sydney Council.
Visit:
Coal Loader Community Garden at Waverton
| Ready, Set, Grow |
This project supports sustainable fruit and vegetable gardens in High Schools, Primary Schools, Pre-schools, long day care and after school care programs.
On offer are practical workshops on running a school fruit & vegetable garden, good gardening practices, composting and more; as well as information on using school gardens to teach students about nutrition and sustainability. These are suitable for teachers, P&C, school gardeners, school environment committees, SRC or anyone else involved in school gardens.
Participating schools receive resources, lesson ideas,
funding options, garden packs, funding towards a visit
by a school garden expert
(limited) and ongoing support.
A new workshop is available on using a new curriculum based program linking the garden and classroom (see Coal Loader Garden Project). It is presented by the Public Health Nutritionist who helped design and implement the program in other schools.
The project is currently run on the Northern Beaches and in Hornsby (led by Hornsby Council).
For more information and workshop details, visit:
Hornsby Council, Ready Set Grow
Your Patch is a school gardens update newsletter with tips, advice and guides to help schools make the most of their vegetable gardens:
| Go Healthy with the new Food and Drink Choices |
In 2009, NSW Health brought out the Live Life Well @ Health: Healthier Food & Drink Choices - Staff & Visitors in NSW Health Facilities Policy. The purpose of this policy is to improve the nutritional quality of food and drinks available to staff and visitors in NSW Health facilities.
Health Promotion has been working closely with various Local Health Network services and departments to implement the policy. It involves working at increasing the range of healthy food and drink and decreasing availability of unhealthy foods at NSCCAHS facilities.
A range of materials have been produced to inform and encourage staff, patients and visitors about healthy food choices while at hospital facilities:
Live Live Well @ Health - NSCCAHS Poster
Live Life Well @ Health - NSCCAHS Table Talker
The program has been a success with vending machines now at least 90% compliant with the policy.
A new innovation to providfe fresh and healthy food at hospital sites has been the introduction of fresh food vending machines being introduced into Emergency Departments at Ryde, Royal North Shore and Hornsby Hospitals. They offer fresh, healthy options to staff and visitors such as salads, sandwiches, whole fruit, fruit salad, light cheese and breakfast beverages.
| Parents Views on Food Study |
The Parents’ Views on Food Study aimed to explore parents’ understanding and approaches
to giving ‘extra’ foods to their 3-5 year old children. Thirteen preschool/long day care centres took part in the study. It was conducted by the Royal North Shore Hospital Dietetics Department and Northern Sydney & Central Coast
Health Promotion in collaboration with The Physical Activity Nutrition and Obesity Research Group (PANORG) at the University of Sydney.
For more information, grab a copy of the study summary:
Parents Views on Food Study - Summary
| Get Health Information and Coaching Service |
The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service was established by NSWHealth in 2009. The service is a free, confidential telephone and web-based service which helps people make lifestyle changes regarding:
- Healthy eating
- Being physically active
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
For more information call 1300 806 258 or visit:
Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service
| Q4: The Coast in Motion |
Our Central Coast whole of community project aims to get all community members physically active and reduce obesity on the Coast. This is done through participation in activity as well as working to create environments that support active healthy living.
One of the major activities undertaken has been the Family ACTIVation Pack. The Pack is a fun packed resource to help parents/carers get active with their children. It's full of quick and easy games to play at home, in the park or wherever....Games that reinforce the fundamental movement skills like throwing, catching, hopping and skipping....the same movement skills being learnt at school.
Find out more at:
Q4 The Coast in Motion - Family ACTIVation Pack
