Physical Activity Promotion 2: A Settings-Based Approach

1. Physical Activity Promotion 2: A Settings-Based Approach Unit 3 Area of Study 1 Chapter 3

2. What is a Setting? • A setting is broadly defined as a geographical area or institution containing a large, ‘captive’ audience, where health messages can be delivered efficiently • Examples include: • Community • School • Work • Home • Clubs/Centres

3. Why Take a Settings Approach to Physical Activity Promotion? • A settings-based approach has been the most popular strategy for promoting physical activity in Australia to date, as it has the potential to reach large groups of people in varying target populations • A multi-level approach that uses individual methods of behaviour change within a settings-based approach, and includes environmental policy support, appears to be the most viable strategy for sustained population change

4. Implementing Physical Activity Promotion Using a Settings Approach • To create an environment supportive of participation in physical activity within a settings-based approach, the choice to be physically active needs to be made: • Convenient • Easy • Safe • Enjoyable

5. Class Task • As a group, discuss and draw up a mind map on the whiteboard of the influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour,with reference to the following settings: • Community • School • Work • Home • Transport • Make a note of the key factors related to each setting, and the potential sedentary and physically active behavioural choices specific to each setting (See example mind map on wiki as a guide)

6. School Settings • Schools play an essential role in providing a physical and social environment that supports young people, their parents and the whole school community in enjoying an active life. • A school setting has the potential to reach large numbers of children within one local area for a significant proportion of their lives, and provides access to at-risk groups such as inactive children

7. School Settings…Recommendations for Promoting PA

8. School Settings…Recommendations for Promoting PA... Source: Centres for Disease Control & Prevention 1997

9. School Settings… The WHO recommends that policy-makers in education focus on: • Strengthening national policies related to physical education, physical activity and sport for all in schools • Implementing sufficient physical education programs by trained teachers in school curricula • Providing sufficient playgrounds, sports facilities and equipment on school premises • Making schools’ sports facilities available for public use • Increasing physical activity in cultural & leisure programs & events

10. School-Based Initiatives • The Walking School Bus initiative http://youtu.be/xYNVp-joZBE • Kids – Go for your life:

11. Kids – Go For Your Life

12. Learning Task • Using your text books and what you have learned in the previous slides, make an information campaign using print-media (brochure – hand-made or Microsoft Publisher; poster; booklet, etc.) on the physical activity promotion in the school, community and work settings, including: • Characteristics of each setting • Overview of the major campaigns & initiatives designed for each setting • Benefits of promoting physical activity in each setting • Potential barriers of physical activity participation and suggestions of how they could be overcome

13. Healthy Spaces and Places • Healthy Spaces and Places is a national program resulting from a collaboration between the Heart Foundation, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), which focuses on how to plan, design and create environments that promote physical activity.

14. Healthy Spaces and Places… • The guide is aimed at everyone who can make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Australians, including: • Planning & design professionals (planners, landscaper architects, building designers, transport planners) • Health professionals (health educators, health advocates) • Developers (the real-estate & construction industries) • Governments and communities (individuals, schools, advocacy organisations and peak bodies)

15. Healthy Spaces and Places…Design Principles & Recommendations • Healthy Spaces and Places was developed in response to the fact that the built environment in Australia generally encourages sedentary behaviour rather than active living. • The following factors have been shown to positively influence physical activity, and informed the design principles to be applied within the built environment…

16. Healthy Spaces and Places…Design Principles & Recommendations… • Active transport • Maximise travel modes that involve activity (walking/cycling, paths, public transport) • Aesthetics • The attractiveness of a location can affect users’ experience and enjoyment (parklands, paths, facilities) • Connectivity • Direct links in paths and roads to allow people to actively walk or ride to local destinations • Environments for all people • Places and facilitates should be accessible to all individuals

17. Parks and open spaces • Provision of recreational reserves and parklands for both passive recreation and sport (natural environments and green space) • Safety and surveillance • Feeling unsafe is a major barrier preventing people from being active. Ensure areas and paths are brightly lit, paths/trails are well-maintained, etc. • Social inclusion • Cater to needs and interests of a diverse range of people and community groups, regardless of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds • Supportive infrastructure • Walking (footpaths, lighting, drinking taps, signage) • Cycling (paths, bike racks/shelters, bike lanes on roads) • Public transport (safe shelters, lighting, signage) • Social interaction (seating, BBQ areas, shade, amenities) • Recreation (playgrounds, facilities, exercise equipment)