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2014–15 Report

Message from the Chief MinisterI would like to welcome you to the inaugural Healthy Weight Initiative annual report card. Each year a report card will be issued outlining the progress on the Healthy Weight Initiative.

This report card highlights the achievements made during 2014–15 and outlines upcoming priorities for 2015–16.

The Government has made an election commitment to address the rising rates of overweight and obesity. In the 2014–15 Budget, the Government committed $3.6m over four years to progress the Healthy Weight Initiative, in addition to existing resources which are being used across government.

Funding in the order of $2.5m over four years has been committed in the 2015–16 Budget to deliver a range of programs supporting healthier lifestyles under the Healthy Weight Initiative, as well as significant infrastructure investment.

The Government priorities of health and education, enhancing liveability and social inclusion, suburban renewal and better transport are supporting efforts to create a healthy, active, productive and vibrant Canberra.

I am pleased with the progress which has already been made particularly within schools, workplaces and the broader community.

I look forward to continuing to deliver on the Healthy Weight Initiative by creating opportunities for Canberrans to make the healthy choice the easier option.

Andrew Barr MLA Chief Minister

Healthy Weight InitiativeDespite the ACT population being the healthiest in Australia, almost two thirds of Canberra adults and approximately one in four children are overweight or obese.

The consequences of obesity include increasing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some forms of cancers resulting in long term health care needs and a poorer quality of life.

Poor diet and physical inactivity are significant contributors to overweight and obesity levels. Research indicates that action beyond the health sector is required to effectively prevent obesity. To help address the rising rates of overweight and obesity in Canberra, the ACT Government has set a target of zero growth for obesity under the Healthy Weight Initiative.

The Healthy Weight Initiative is a whole of government program with a number of activities being implemented to effectively plan and develop our neighbourhoods and increase healthy lifestyle choices across a range of areas including schools, communities, workplaces, homes and places where food is provided, sold and consumed.

There are a number of key health risk factors that can have an effect on obesity. How much physical activity a person does and how much and what they eat can affect the likelihood of becoming overweight or obese. Some key health risk indicators will be used to monitor and track the ACT’s performance on stopping the growth of obesity levels. Further information on these indicators will be available online shortly at www.act.gov.au/healthyliving.

In the pages that follow are both those specifically addressing the Healthy Weight Initiative and other related programs.

Healthy Living

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Section A: Healthy eating and food environmentsFood choices are shaped by our environment, including shops, workplaces, schools and through the media. Often these environments make it too easy to choose unhealthy foods and can crowd out healthy food messages from other sources. Improvements in the food environment at shops, workplaces and schools, and an increased awareness of healthy eating are needed to help the community to make healthy choices the easy and appealing choices.

Achievements during 2014-15Water refill stationsDuring the year, the availability of free drinking water in public places and food outlets was increased by the installation of six units in Canberra sporting fields and neighbourhood ovals. A further 24 units were installed in ACT Government managed public spaces and parks across Canberra.

A minimum of two water refill stations have also been installed in all ACT public schools. Each student was given a reusable water bottle which promotes water as the drink of choice, and also reduces plastic waste.

ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015

The ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 was launched in February 2015. The policy replaces the School Canteens Policy 2012 and requires schools to apply the National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines traffic light system to the sale of food and drinks in school canteens, with some exemptions, and to all ACT public school activities and events.

The ACT Government recognises that childhood is a time when attitudes about food and eating behaviours are formed, and that the school environment plays an important role in influencing children’s food preferences. The ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 promotes a whole-school approach to the provision and sale of healthy food and drinks in schools, and will support children to develop healthy eating and drinking habits from an early age.

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The policy was developed in consultation with nutrition experts, schools, parents and carers, students, and the broader community.

A suite of 17 fact sheets have been developed to support school communities to understand the policy. The fact sheets cover a range of topics, including advice for school canteens.

Vending machines were removed from all ACT Public Schools in 2014. The sale of sugary drinks in ACT Public School canteens was also phased out in 2014. ACT Public School canteens continue to receive support through a number of different services to align menus with the traffic light system.

Fresh Tastes

Fresh Tastes healthy food at school is an ACT Health service that supports all ACT schools to improve children’s access to, knowledge of, and uptake of healthy food and drink choices. It provides a number

of teacher resources, professional learning for teachers, support for practical cooking and gardening programs in schools, and aims to enhance healthy food service provision in schools and promotes healthy food and drinks to the school community as part of everyday life. Fresh Tastes, launched in 2014, is available to public, catholic and independent primary schools in Canberra. Fresh Tastes activities focus on:

• supporting schools to implement the ACT Public School Foodand Drink Policy 2015 or developing their own healthy food anddrink guidelines for catholic and independent primary schoolswhere appropriate;

• supporting schools in providing healthy food for saleat school canteens;

• learning about good nutrition;

• cooking food;

• growing food; and

• promoting healthy food in the wider school community.

To date, 42 ACT primary schools are currently participating in Fresh Tastes, the majority of these being ACT Public Schools, with more schools signing up each term. Through Fresh Tastes, schools work with business and community partners to support children and their families to learn about nutrition and healthy choices.

Every Fresh Tastes school receives resources, professional learning and incentives over a three year period to help achieve the goals set by the school in consultation with their community.

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A key element of Fresh Tastes is Food & ME, a series of teacher resources linked to the Australian Curriculum and designed for use with primary and secondary school students. Food & ME provides students with the opportunity to learn about the relationship between food and health, including the effects on their bodies and wellbeing. The resource covers basic nutrition knowledge, food preparation and healthy decision making skills, all of which are essential for fostering lifelong healthy eating behaviours. More than 255 Canberra teachers have been trained in providing nutrition education to primary school students through Food & ME professional learning sessions.

It’s Your Move

It’s Your Move is an ACT Health partnership with a number of ACT public secondary schools that aims to increase physical activity and healthy eating, with a view to reducing unhealthy weight gain in young people aged 12–16 years. Phase one, funded by the now finished National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health was a research program with Deakin University. The three implementation schools involved in the program demonstrated that changes in the school environment, such as increasing physical activity opportunities, changing the food environment and developing healthy food and drink guidelines, results in positive outcomes for students.

In 2015, phase two of It’s Your Move involves nine ACT public secondary schools, and builds on the findings of phase one to identify new ways to improve the health of secondary school students.

Healthy eating community programs

Free cooking skills programs were provided for members of the Chinese, African, Pacific Islander and Persian/Hazara communities. Sessions included information on nutrition and the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Cooking demonstrations covered both ethnic and international cuisine. A cooking skills program using a ‘train

the trainer’ approach was also held for the staff and young people of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre with a view to arranging further programs in the future.

In order to increase the awareness of healthy living among the multicultural community, a healthy eating fact sheet was translated into eleven community languages.

In addition, a number of nutrition and healthy eating educational sessions were conducted in nine community language schools across the ACT, reaching over 200 students.

An innovative holistic program called Freshen It Up has been delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre. The free program included transport to the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets where participants were provided with nutritional information and cooking demonstrations. Other activities included excursions to the University of Canberra, Greening Australia and a local gym, where guest presenters provided input on life skills, mentoring, healthy ‘bush tucker’ and physical fitness. Feedback from the program has been very positive, with participants actively engaged in each activity, and reporting a growing commitment to healthy eating and physical activity.

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Audit on food and beverage marketing to children

The results of the Heart Foundation ACT audit on food and beverage marketing to children was launched and accepted by the ACT Government in March 2015.

ACT Public Sector Healthy Food and Drink Choices Vending Machine Policy

The ACT Public Sector Healthy Food and Drink Choices Vending Machine Policy was developed and implemented to increase the availability of healthy food and drinks in vending machines at ACT Government workplaces and facilities. This policy was based on ACT Health’s Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy which applies to ACT Health facilities and activities.

Section A: Priorities for 2015-16• Additional water refill stations will be installed across the ACT

under the urban renewal program.

• Supporting implementation of the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 will continue to be a key priority. A nutrition service will be available to support school canteens to implement the policy.

• Ongoing implementation of Fresh Tastes and Phase two of It’s Your Move.

• A number of cooking skills programs for multicultural and socially disadvantaged communities will continue to be available.

• The provision of nutrition information in supermarkets and shopping centres will be facilitated.

• Public consultation on the Heart Foundation ACT audit on food and beverage marketing to children with the aim of agreeing a set of voluntary actions to increase the promotion of healthy food and drink choices to children.

• Healthy options will be increased and promoted at Territory Venues.

• Partnerships with emergency food providers and food rescue organisations will be established to increase the provision of healthy food options.

• An ACT Public Sector Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy will be developed to increase healthy catering including the availability of healthy food and drinks at its workplaces, facilities, activities and functions.

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Section B: Active places and communityThe urban and built physical environment requires renewal to promote physical activity opportunities for Canberrans. Effective urban planning and renewal can shape our neighbourhoods to encourage active recreation and the active travel options of walking, cycling and public transport. The Healthy Weight Initiative is being supported by the implementation of active transport infrastructure and key government projects such as Light Rail and transport reform. The Healthy Weight Initiative is also considered in the delivery of government policies including Transport for Canberra, the ACT Planning Strategy and Action Plan 2 (ACT Climate Change Strategy), the City Plan, other master plans and the Active 2020 Strategic Plan.

Workplaces, schools and communities of socioeconomic disadvantage can benefit from additional physical activity opportunities which support more active and healthier lifestyles. In addition, accurate and timely information about the health of the ACT population, health risks and health services is crucial for planning and evaluating actions aimed at preventing overweight and obesity.

Achievements during 2014-15Physical Education in ACT Public Primary Schools

In 2014, a number of ACT public primary schools partnered with local sport and physical activity providers to pilot professional learning programs for teachers under the Building Teacher Capacity to Deliver Physical Education in ACT Public Primary Schools project. Feedback from the pilots found that a range of professional learning approaches support primary school teachers to deliver structured and developmentally appropriate physical education.

Community physical activity programs

A free swimming program for Muslim and South Asian women was conducted at a private facility in 2015. The program, which included learn to swim and aqua aerobics, proved very popular, with participant numbers starting at around 20 and increasing to over 100, including some children. A special cooking demonstration concluded the program.

Participant feedback indicated that the swimming program had provided them with confidence to be more physically active,

helped them make new friends and feel more connected to the community. Due to popular demand, a second round of the program was arranged, with the ACT Government subsiding the venue hire and participants covering the entrance fee.

A physical activity program called ‘Move it’, involving the provision of low cost gym sessions, was undertaken for men and women of various multicultural and disadvantaged communities. The men’s program focused on Housing ACT tenants, while the women’s program supported women attending multicultural and Muslim playgroups from Tuggeranong and Gungahlin Child and Family Centres. Both programs included a component on healthy eating. Participants enjoyed the programs and felt more motivated to make positive changes towards greater physical activity and healthier eating practices.

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Active living

Active living principles have continued to be integrated into all town and group centre master plans. In 2014–15, the Oaks Estate Master Plan and the Weston Group Centre Master Plan were publicly released. Draft master plans for the Woden Town Centre and Mawson Group Centre were also released. The development of additional master plans for the Curtin, Calwell and Kippax Group Centres will provide additional opportunities for active living principles to be implemented.

The ACT Government and the Heart Foundation ACT have continued to collaborate on the Active Living Program. As part of this program, the Heart Foundation ACT provided education to the community and policy advice and research to the ACT Government and other organisations on active living principles.

The Heart Foundation ACT contributed to the development of the Active Travel Framework and the Light Rail Master Plan. In addition, the Heart Foundation ACT also initiated the second edition of the Blueprint for an Active Australia, which provides an update on evidence and interventions for key co-ordinated action to ensure preventable disease from inactivity is reduced. This included providing a report on incorporating active living principles in the Territory Plan that is being considered by the ACT Government.

A number of urban infrastructure design standards have been revised to incorporate active living principles which will assist with the design and development of future works.

There are many active living physical activity opportunities in Canberra’s

beautiful outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. These include newly installed outdoor fitness stations and walking trails as well as things people may not normally use to get active such as a bench at a playground which can be used while the kids are playing or to break up a walk or run.

A ‘Find Fitness Outdoors’ online hub and marketing campaign has been launched with ambassadors facilitating five free outdoor fitness sessions for the community. The website contains a number of videos showing the community how to use the outdoor fitness equipment as well as a map to assist them in locating the nearest fitness location or activity.

Active travelTo build an integrated transport network the ACT Government’s Parking Action Plan was released recently. This includes actions to encourage more sustainable travel behaviours and support people to exercise more and live active lifestyles through the use of public transport and active travel modes (e.g. walking and cycling) in order to get to work or move around the city.

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An Active Travel Framework was also launched which highlights the importance of active travel to the ACT, and outlines how the ACT can better plan, deliver, encourage and manage active travel in an integrated transport system. The Active Transport Office is being established to provide a coordinated approach to the ACT Government’s planning and implementation of the Active Travel Framework.

In 2014–15, a range of initiatives were progressed or completed that contributed to the objectives of Transport for Canberra including improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure. Projects include the Civic Cycle Loop, Bike and Ride facilities in Kippax and North Weston, and shared path upgrades on the Federal Highway (between Flemington Road and Stirling Avenue).

The Bunda Street Shareway was constructed and opened in May 2015. The Shareway is a combined pedestrian, cyclist and motorist shared zone. The Bunda Street Shareway was the final stage of the Civic Cycle Loop. The Shareway was nominated for a national planning award which recognises innovative planning solutions. The project was an award winner at the 2014 ACT Planning Institute of Australia Awards and was named a finalist in the 2015 Planning Institute of Australia National Awards for Planning Excellence.

During the year, active travel facilities were audited in two suburbs (Ainslie and Weston) which included consultation with older affected residents about the delivery of high priority improvements. Infrastructure designed for older persons will benefit all users. The outcomes from this community engagement will be incorporated into future planning proposals.

The ACT Government has continued to invest in and promote active travel through the use of public transport. Park-and-Ride and Bike-and-Ride services have been promoted to increase use of public transport, cycling and walking and improve road network operations. The recent focus has been on Bike-and-Ride sites and Park-and-Ride sites where there has been little take-up of facilities. Improved signage was installed at four sites across the ACT. A number of demonstration videos were developed to show the community how easy it is to use the facilities. An advertising campaign is also being implemented to encourage the community to utilise the Bike-and-Ride and Park-and-Ride facilities.

In addition, the Park-and-Ride and Bike-and-Ride facilities at Erindale were designed. Construction work is anticipated to be completed in early 2016.

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Ride or Walk to School

The Ride or Walk to School program aims to increase walking, cycling and use of public transport among school students in the ACT. Funded through an ACT Health, Healthy Canberra Grant, the Ride or Walk to School program promotes riding and walking to school to support children to meet the National Physical Activity Guidelines.

The Physical Activity Foundation manages the Ride or Walk to School program in ACT primary schools. Participating schools receive bikes, helmets, maintenance support, personal safety sessions, road safety education, BMX skills development workshops and a range of other supports as part of the initiative. A total of 52 schools and 21,000 students will be part of the Ride or Walk to School program which includes 30 new schools in 2015. Every primary school across the ACT will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Safe Cycle professional learning to support the Ride or Walk to School program.

The Active Streets project under the Ride or Walk to School program is a pilot

project aiming to identify barriers and enablers for parents to support their children to use active travel as a means of getting to and from school. A range of outputs are expected to be piloted varying from changing perceptions of parents to giving the children the independence to ride or walk to school, changes to infrastructure, roads, pathways, or a reduction of speed limits to improve overall safety.

Kids at Play Active Play

The ACT Health, Kids at Play Active Play was recently launched and builds on the earlier Kids at Play program. The program is designed to promote active play and teach fundamental movement skills to children aged between three to five. To date, 35 early childhood education and care services in Canberra have participated in the new program. Preliminary data shows that 96 per cent of the educators surveyed, reported increased confidence in teaching fundamental movement skills to the target children and 100 per cent reported an increase use of these skills to encourage active play.

Physical activity and lifestyle programs

A physical activity and lifestyle program called Healthier Me has been developed for ACT Government staff who are at risk of developing, or currently living with, diabetes or other chronic conditions. Entry into the program has been subsidised by the ACT Government with approximately 80 staff members having already completed the program. Due to the positive feedback received, the program is continuing to be facilitated and is now being offered to other employees in the ACT.

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Healthier Work

Supported in 2014–15 through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health and the ACT Government, Healthier Work is a free service established to support employers to develop health and wellbeing initiatives within their workplace. Healthier Work has continued to partner with businesses on the development of health and wellbeing programs. The Healthier Work service assisted 45 workplaces to implement 12 month health and wellbeing programs.

Healthier Work has launched a Recognition Plus program that provides discounts to Healthier Work recognised workplaces and promotes ACT health and wellbeing service providers through the Healthier Work website. In addition, an online workplace health and wellbeing score card has been developed to assist businesses in looking at how they can become healthier.

Data and information

To improve our knowledge base and to support better decision making, the ACT Government has been improving the way that cycling usage data is captured so that it is more accurate and collected in a more efficient way. A cycle count mobile application was developed and used for the first time in this year’s annual cycle counts. These counts play an important role in the planning of future walking and cycling facilities and ensuring these meet community needs.

Improving information collected in General Practice offers potential for identifying and evaluating healthy weight initiatives. The ACT Medicare Local, in collaboration with the ACT Government, has been working with sixteen General Practices

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across Canberra to improve the collection and assessment of biometric data such as height and weight measurements.

The ACT Government has also been working with the ACT Medicare Local to develop an online Lifestyle Modification Program Directory portal that outlines a comprehensive list of evidence based, relevant, up-to-date healthy lifestyle programs. This community portal will link to HealthPathways, an online health information resource designed to be used primarily by general practitioners at the point of care to guide best practice assessment and management of medical conditions, including pathways to refer patients to local services. This will enable clinicians, such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals and consumers to more easily access information on community based lifestyle modification programs and services in the ACT.

Section B: Priorities for 2015-16• The ACT Government will conduct workshops to analyse the

feedback from the Building Teacher Capacity to Deliver Physical Education in ACT Public Primary Schools project. This analysis will inform the design of teacher professional learning accessed through the Physical Education Pulse Network.

• Opportunities will be explored for people with a disability, public housing or elderly communities to benefit from active living initiatives.

• The urban renewal program will incorporate an extensive range of projects to create vibrant, connected town and group centres that support active and healthy lifestyles.

• Approximately $23 million worth of projects will be delivered to improve active travel in 2015–16.

• The ACT Government will continue work on building an integrated transport network to shape the way the ACT grows and prospers by delivering outcomes relating to active travel, parking, light rail, buses, freight, reducing transport emissions and health.

• Implementation of the ACT Government’s Parking Action Plan 2015–18 will commence.

• Implementation of the ACT Active Travel Framework will commence in the interests of supporting travel behaviour change and programs to promote and encourage greater take-up of active travel.

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• All master plans for town and group centres will aim to include recommendations for improvements to cycle and pedestrian connectivity and to incorporate active living principles.

• Through the Heart Foundation ACT, the Active Living Program will continue to educate the community, raise awareness and provide policy advice on active living principles. The ACT Government will consider a variation to the Territory Plan to incorporate active living principles.

• Implementation of a range of active living infrastructure initiatives including the installation of new bike racks, fitness equipment upgrades as well as improvements to walking and cycling paths and public spaces.

• Introduction of a Chief Minister’s award scheme to recognise and reward ACT workplaces for their commitment to health and wellbeing.

• Ongoing delivery of the physical activity and lifestyle modification programs for both ACT Government and non-ACT Government employees at risk of developing diabetes or other chronic diseases.

• Healthier Work will continue to assist businesses on the development of health and wellbeing programs.

• Ongoing implementation of the Ride or Walk to School and Kids at Play programs.

• The community portal of healthy lifestyle programs will be launched.

• Ongoing work with new General Practices to improve the collection of biometric data.

• Improvements to the efficiency, accuracy and quality of information captured on cycling participation.

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ACT Public School Food and Drink PolicyThe ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 promotes a whole school approach to the provision and sale of healthy food and drinks, and will support children to develop healthy eating and drinking habits from an early age.

A suite of 17 fact sheets have been developed to support school communities to understand the policy. The fact sheets cover a range of topics, including advice for school canteens.

The policy and fact sheets can be accessed at www.det.act.gov.au.

Healthy Living

Green food and drink items

In accordance with the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015, the provision and sale of all food and drinks in ACT public schools must meet the National Healthy School Canteens: Guidelines for healthy foods and drinks supplied in school canteens 2013 (NHSCG). Under the NHSCG, GREEN foods and drinks are the best choices and form the basis of a healthy diet. They should always be available, displayed in prominent areas and actively promoted and encouraged.

Best choiceGREEN foods and drinks offer a wide range of nutrients and are generally low in saturated fat, added sugar and/or added salt. They help to avoid consumption of excess energy (kilojoules).

GREEN Food and Drink Items

Drinks Water (Plain, tap, spring, mineral or sparkling with nothing added). Low or reduced fat milk and soy drinks, plain and flavoured. May contain intense (artificial) sweeteners. Suggested serve size 375ml or less (except coffee-style milk drinks). Coffee style milk drinks (including flavoured) may be sold in secondary school (maximum 375mL serve size).

Bread and alternatives

Bagels, burritos, crumpets, English muffins, focaccia, gluten free, lavash, Lebanese, multigrain, pita, rye, tortillas, Turkish, wholegrain, wholemeal, white high fibre, white. Raisin and fruit bread, un-iced fruit buns, glazed hot cross fruit buns. Plain and savoury scones, pikelets and pancakes.

Breakfast cereals Wholegrain, wholewheat flakes, wholegrain puffed cereals, porridge, wholewheat biscuits, low in added sugar, higher in fibre and without confectionery.*

Rice, grains, pasta

Plain rice, noodles, pasta, burghul, cracked wheat, polenta, cous cous.Plain air-popped popcorn with nothing added.

Yoghurt, custard and cheese (including soy alternatives

Low or reduced fat cheese without added confectionery* low or reduced fat plain or fruit yoghurt and custard without added confectionery.*• May contain artificial sweeteners.

Fruit Fresh, in season is the best choice. Frozen, pureed or canned in natural juice (does not include dried fruit).

Vegetables (including legumes)

Fresh, in season is the best choice. Frozen or canned without added flavourings. Chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, baked beans, lentil patties and falafels (grilled or baked).

Lean meat, fish, poultry and alternatives

Unprocessed lean beef, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, fish. Canned tuna, salmon, sardines. Eggs, nuts** (un-salted, un-roasted, dry roasted).

* Confectionery includes; boiled lollies, carob, chocolate (including choc chips and chocolate-coating), chocolate spreads eg. Nutella.

** Check your school policy regarding the use of nuts and products containing nuts.

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Healthy LivingAmber food and drink items

In accordance with the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015, the provision and

sale of all food and drinks in ACT public schools must meet the National Healthy School

Canteens: Guidelines for healthy foods and drinks supplied in school canteens 2013

(NHSCG). Under the NHSCG AMBER category foods and drinks have some valuable

nutrients but contain considerable amounts of saturated fat, added sugar and/or added salt.

They can contribute to excess energy (kilojoules) intake. Do not let these foods dominate the

menu or displays and avoid large serving sizes.

Select sometimesPortion size and nutrient criteria are used to define AMBER foods and drinks and to distinguish

them from RED foods and drinks. The criteria take into consideration the saturated fat, sodium

(salt), fibre and kilojoule profile of the food, and apply to either a serve size or per 100 grams

depending on the category of food.

AMBER food examples – select carefully

Drinks

Full fat milk and soy drinks, plain and flavoured

• May contain intense (artificial) sweeteners.

• Suggested 375 mL serve size or less (except coffee-style

milk drinks).• Coffee-style milk drinks (including flavoured) may be sold

in secondary school (maximum 375mL serve size).

Fruit/vegetable juice• At least 99% fruit/vegetable juice, including sparkling varieties,

no added sugar (maximum serve size 250mL serve size).

Breakfast cerealsHigher in added sugar and lower in fibre.

Yoghurt, custard and cheese (including soy

alternatives)

Full fat cheese without added confectionery*. Full fat plain or fruit

yoghurt and custard without added confectionery*.

• May contain intense (artificial) sweeteners.

Dried fruit, fruit leathers

All types. Fruit leathers must be 100% fruit. Keep the serve size small.

Fruit ice blocks, fruit jelly desserts,

ice crushes and slushies

At least 99% fruit juice and no added sugar.

• Ice slushies and fruit jellies (maximum 200ml serve size).

• Fruit ice blocks (maximum 125mL serve size).

Meat products and alternatives Burgers, patties, strips, balls, nuggets, sausages, frankfurts, saveloys

(crumbed and not crumbed), stews, casseroles and curries.

Lean processed luncheon meats, fritz, devon, chicken loaf, free-flow

chicken, cured meats ( for example: ham, bacon), chicken drumsticks

and wings.

Savoury hot food items

Savoury pastries, filled breads, pasta dishes, pizzas, oven baked

potato products, dim sims, spring rolls, rice and noodle dishes.

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Healthy Living

Red food and drink items

In accordance with the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015, the provision and sale of all food and drinks in ACT public schools must meet the National Healthy School Canteens: Guidelines for healthy foods and drinks supplied in school canteens 2013 (NHSCG). Under the NHSCG RED foods and drink are not recommended. They do not contribute positively to the diet and are low in nutritional value.

Not recommendedRED foods and drinks may contain excess energy (kilojoules), saturated fat, added sugar and/or salt.

RED drink examples

Soft drinks, iced tea, cordial, sports waters, sports drinks, flavoured mineral water, energy drinks, sweetened waters. Includes any drink containing intense (artificial) sweeteners* with the exception of flavoured milk.

Any product containing guarana.

Coffee-style products (including flavoured), mocha, latte, cappuccino or similar, with the exception of coffee-style milk drinks.

Coffee-style milk drinks (including flavoured) in primary school.Coffee-style milk drinks greater than 375mL serve size in secondary school.

Fruit/vegetable juice with less than 99% juice and/or with added sugar and/or with greater than 250mL serve size.

Drinks with less than 99% fruit juice and/or added sugar and/or greater than 200mL serve size.

RED food examples

Fruit ice blocks, jelly desserts, ice crushes and slushies, icy-poles

Less than 99% fruit juice and/or added sugar. Fruit ice blocks and icy-poles - serve size greater than 125ml. Ice slushies, jelly desserts and fruit jellies - serve size greater than 200ml.

Cakes and slices Iced cakes and slices, doughnuts, Danishes, croissants, cream filled buns/cakes.

Confectionary All types: sold separately or added to products including; boiled lollies, carob, chocolate (including choc chips and chocolate-coating), chocolate spreads, cough lollies, 100s and 1000s, juice jellies, icing, liquorice, soft lollies, yoghurt/carob-coated.

Deep fried foods All types.

Fats Cream, coconut cream, coconut milk, butter, copha, ghee, lard.

* Code number and prescribed name for intense (artificial) sweeteners include: 950 (acesulphame potassium), 951 (aspartame), 952 (cyclamate), 953 (isomalt), 954 (saccharin), 955 (sucralose), 956 (alitame), 957 (thaumatin), 961 (neotame), 965 (maltitol or hydrogenated glucose syrup), 966 (lactitol), 967 (xylitol), 968 (erythritol)

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Healthy Living

Resources for Canteens

The ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 supports school canteens to implement the National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines 2013 and provides a whole school framework for supporting students’ health and wellbeing.

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What hasn’t changed for school canteens? ACT Public School canteens are already implementing the National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines (NHSCG). These Guidelines are based on a traffic light system to assess foods and drinks that are the best choice (GREEN), to be selected carefully (AMBER), and not at all (RED).

Implementing the NHSCG remains the main priority for ACT public school canteens.

What is different for school canteens?The new ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 replaces the ACT School Canteens Policy 2012 and the ACT School Canteens Policy Implementation Procedures. For private canteen operators the new policy introduces the use of the standard ACT Licence Agreement 2012 and the ACT Disclosure Statement Leases (Commercial and Retail) 2001. For Parents and Citizens (P&C) canteen operators there is a single P&C Operated Canteens Canteen Service Deed.

These legal documents replace the informal agreements covered in detail in the ACT School Canteens Policy Implementation Procedures and streamline the process for schools. The new Policy requirement for regular menu reviews will be built into the standard Licence Agreement. This provision is designed to assist school canteens to implement the NHSCG.

For more detail about the new contractual arrangements see the factsheet Canteen Contracts.

The main change arising from the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy 2015 is to extend the application of the NHSCG to the broader school environment.

Support for school canteensProviding a range of healthy options requires careful planning, creative and practical ideas, good marketing and promotion, and strong networking and partnerships. The following resources and services work together to provide training and support for ACT school canteens to implement the NHSCG.

National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines 2013A range of resources to support canteens to implement the NHSCG, including a Quick Reference Guide, posters and calculators, are available at: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/phd-nutrition-canteens

User Guide to the National Healthy School Canteen GuidelinesThe User Guide is specifically for the ACT and will be a step by step guide to understand and apply the NHSCG. This resource is being developed by ACT Health in consultation with school canteens and will be available in term 2, 2015. For updated information go to www.health.act.gov.au/freshtastes

Fresh TastesFresh Tastes is a school-based program that promotes healthy food and drinks as a part of everyday life and is available to public, catholic and independent primary schools in Canberra.

To register your school’s interest in the Fresh Tastes program, please email freshtastes@act.gov.au or phone (02) 6205 1452.

Ride or Walk to SchoolDelivered by the Physical Activity Foundation through a Healthy Canberra Grant, the Ride or Walk to School program aims to increase walking, cycling and use of public transport among school students in Canberra through ACT primary schools.

While the program is currently at capacity, if you would like to be advised of future availability, please register your interest at info@paf.org.au.

Resources

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Fresh Tastes Food & ME resourcesFood & ME is a series of evidence-based nutrition education resources aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and aligned to the Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013).

The Food & ME resource supports schools to deliver the classroom learning component of the Fresh Tastes program. There are four Food & ME nutrition education resources (Kindergarten, Years 1&2, Years 3&4 and Years 5&6).

A Food & ME resource for Years 7&8 is currently being developed. An online professional development tool for Food & ME is currently under development.

Register online to download the Food & ME resources for free.

Find Fitness Outdoors website

The ‘Find Fitness Outdoors’ website contains videos which show you how to use the outdoor fitness equipment available across the ACT. It also provides a map to assist you in locating outdoor fitness facilities near you. Visit www.act.gov.au/outdoorfitness.

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Good Habits for LifeGood Habits for Life is a social marketing campaign aimed at helping Canberra families with young children aged 8 and under to take some simple steps to a healthier lifestyle.

Sign up on the website and you’ll get a free personalised program filled with practical tips and challenges to help your family eat well, move more and get into life. You can track your progress on your family dashboard, and the kids will be kept busy – and healthy – with fun badges to collect. You’ll be encouraging good habits in your kids – good habits that will stay with them for life.

Visit the website at www.act.gov.au/goodhabitsforlife. LiveLighter campaign

The LiveLighter campaign was launched in the ACT in October 2014. Funded by a Healthy Canberra Grant, the campaign is managed by the Heart Foundation ACT as a population based education campaign aimed at improving health outcomes through encouraging adults to make healthier life choices. There is a particular focus on encouraging people to eat well, be physically active and maintain a healthy weight.

The target audience for the campaign is adults aged 25–64 whose current behaviour puts them at risk of overweight or obesity. The campaign also aims to increase the level of public debate about overweight and obesity.

The website provides information, tips, suggestions and recipes at www.livelighter.com.au.

Workplace health and wellbeing score card

Healthier Work has recently launched an online workplace health and wellbeing score card to assist businesses in looking at how they can become healthier.

Go to the Healthier Work website to access the score card at www.healthierwork.act.gov.au.

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Master PlansThe ACT Government considers active living and active travel as part of planning for the future of the ACT, as showcased most recently in the draft master plans for Woden Town Centre and the Mawson Group Centre Draft Master Plan. Although Canberra has the highest cycle usage rate and the second highest walking rate nationally, active travel participation in some parts of the ACT still needs to be encouraged. The ACT Government focuses on the importance of active travel in Transport for Canberra 2012 and as a signatory to the 2010 International Charter for Walking.

Master Plans for the Belconnen Town Centre and Mawson, Calwell and Curtin Group Centres are being prepared and will also include active living and active travel principles.

Active Travel Framework

The Active Travel Framework outlines how the ACT Government can better integrate planning and delivery of active travel initiatives to further encourage and support walking, cycling and riding as part of Canberra’s overall urban planning, transport, health, environment and education systems. Canberra is designed for walking, cycling and riding. The city is relatively flat and has hundreds of kilometres of cycleway including an extensive network of safe off-road bike paths. The Active Travel Framework contains a number of activities to improve active travel opportunities in the ACT.

For more information, visit www.transport.act.gov.au.

Parking Action PlanThe ACT Government’s Parking Action Plan is designed to make parking more accessible and recognises parking as a critical component in building an integrated transport network for Canberra. The ACT Government is taking a strategic approach to the provision and management of parking. This approach reflects the importance of parking for residents, its contribution to the social and economic vitality of the Territory, and the need to maximise the efficiency and usage of existing parking.

The Parking Action Plan includes a detailed implementation plan which sets out the key actions and initiatives the ACT Government will undertake over the short, medium and longer term to understand parking demand, improve parking efficiency, and manage parking demand and supply.

For more information, visit www.transport.act.gov.au.