In a world where the majority are still working from home, the South Australian Government has introduced a new strategy encouraging South Australian’s to get moving.
The plan aims to increase people’s physical activity and subsequently save the public health system up to $804 million a year. The strategy focuses on eight key frameworks including affordable and sustainable sporting opportunities, accessible sports facilities, and public open spaces. The initiative aims to ensure more people have the ability to include exercise in their daily lives.
The strategy couldn’t come at a better time. The impact of COVID-19 is taking its toll not only on people’s physical health but also mental health. The plan will not only aim to get people moving again but should also create a flow-on effect in the improvement of mental wellbeing. With uncertainty and financial stress at the forefront of many people’s minds, this financial boost has the ambition to benefit both physical and mental health within the community.
Sport Minister Corey Wingard says that insufficient exercise had the ability to cost the public health system up to an additional $86,366 per person during their lifetime. With only 58 percent of South Australian’s exercising for the recommended 150 minutes per week, the state government aims to push the public to increase the stats to 62 percent over the next 5 years. “We want to make sure we provide the right facilities and opportunities to get more people out and active and do that 150 minutes of exercise per week” he said.
The recommended 150 minutes a week is a mere 21 minutes of physical exercise per day, the aim, to hopefully see these public health savings invested elsewhere into the community. Wingard says “We set ourselves some goals and targets as a state because we know if we can get people moving and active we’ll have great benefits going forward.”
The state government’s plans aim to assist people with their 150 minutes of exercise by introducing more opportunities and facilities to increase their ability to get out and get active. The state government has already begun rolling out projects under the Game On strategy, with $70 million allocated to a number of national parks in the metropolitan area, opening them up for recreational activities.
This plan couldn’t come at a better time with physical distancing restrictions easing and more and more people heading out to their local parks and reserves to get moving again.
