Project Energize - Winner Project Collaboration Award
2009 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Sector Awards
Project Energize is a school-based nutrition and physical activity programme, the first of its kind in the country, which aims to increase children’s physical activity levels, reduce sedentary time, and encourage healthy eating. It’s about raising happy, healthy children.
Project Energize began as a two year random trial funded by the Waikato District Health Board (Waikato DHB) in 2005-6, Project Energize was initially delivered in 62 primary schools in the Waikato, with approximately 11,000 children involved. 62 comparative schools provided a control sample for the evaluation. A team of 10 Project Energize staff, with backgrounds in teaching, physical activity or sport and exercise science were employed to work with the selected schools.
In April 2007, the Waikato DHB renewed funding until the end of 2008 and in December 2008, after research and evaluation showed that Project Energize was making a positive difference they approved a $700,000 per annum expansion of the project into all Waikato primary and intermediate schools. From May 2009 all 256 Waikato primary, intermediate and area schools will have access to an ‘Energizer’ and funding has been confirmed until December 2011.
A governance group for the programme was created, with community, contractor, academic and provider representation, to oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing delivery of the programme. Separately, Waikato DHB committed to supporting baseline data collection and ongoing evaluation data, resources permitting.
The following partners form the consortium delivering Project Energize:
- Sport Waikato – consortium leader
- Te Kohao Health – employer of a member of Team Energize (Energizer).
- Nga Miro Health – employer of an Energizer.
- Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki – employer of an Energizer.
- South Waikato Pacific Island Health Committee – employer of an Energizer.
- SPARC
- Wintec
- Waikato University, School of Education
- Environment Waikato
- The National Heart Foundation
- Population Health Services
- The Te Ratonga Whakamaori Te Pua Wananga ki te Ao University of Waikato translation service.
Each partner has a representative on the Project Governance Group.
Project Energize supports environmental changes in schools and communities to ensure healthy food choices and quality physical activity options are readily available. What differentiates this project from other school initiatives is the provision of staff, ‘Energizers’, who work with children, teachers, parents and school communities to make changes.
Team Energize are now the conduit /point of contact for over 15 organisations that would otherwise be individually approaching schools regarding closely aligned physical activity and/or nutrition goals. The agencies/programmes utilising the Project Energize model include:
- all Sport Waikato “Active Schools” information and workshops;
- Ministry of Education - School Support Services course promotion;
- National Heart Foundation School Food Programme and Jump Rope Programme;
- Health Promoting Schools;
- Fruit in Schools (18 schools);
- Jump Jam;
- Swim Start;
- Run Jump Throw;
- Rippa Rugby (Rugby Union);
- YMCA Push Play challenge;
- The school canteen suppliers;
- sports distributors; and
- 12 sporting codes.
The Project Collaboration Award went to Project Energize. Pictured are Project Energize manager Stephanie McLennan, Sport Waikato chief executive Matt Cooper and presenter Barry Maister (Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee). Photo by David Gall/SPARC.
.
From these programmes, and ideas of their own, Energizers help schools and school learning communities select activities/initiatives based on a needs analysis. Energizers have helped deliver:
Physical Wellbeing via:
- ideas/assistance in P.E. lessons (e.g. ball skills);
- orienteering courses;
- fundamental skills testing / assessment / goal setting programme;
- Bikewise Programme;
- pedometer challenge;
- scavenger hunts;
- Walk to School week;
- the provision of resources;
- fitness testing;
- cross country ideas and games; and
- traditional Maori games.
Teacher Professional Development for:
- Jump Rope for Heart;
- ball skills;
- fundamental skills;
- KiwiDex;
- Jump Jam;
- Kiwi cross (Cross Country);
- Run, Jump, Throw;
- dance;
- swimming instructing – Swim Start;
- leadership (Looking 2 Lead);
- class demonstrations;
- sports (in conjunction with Sports Force Officers).
Student Leadership modules focusing on:
- lunchtime games/activities/competitions;
- sports shed management;
- interclass competitions; and
- fun runs/games.
School – Community links through:
- the Home - School Link programme;
- home play challenges;
- community events;
- Push Play events.
Health and physical education curriculum links to teaching units and resources including:
- Breakfast;
- Eat your Colours;
- Sandwich unit;
- Snack food unit; and
- Sugary drinks unit.
To be successful, the project required community support and engagement, especially in low decile schools and areas with a high percentage of Maori and Pacific children. Project Leader Sport Waikato therefore chose subcontractors which had the skills, expertise, knowledge, and community links to ensure the project would succeed in these schools and communities.
However, managing the perceptions, capacity and aspirations of each subcontracting organisation and meeting contractual obligations set out by the Waikato DHB was challenging for Sport Waikato. Sport Waikato found that subcontractors wished to do things the way they felt best for their communities. However, whilst the project was a randomised trail everything had to be standardised. From 2009 on, the service specifications have been modified and subcontractors are now able to mould their Energize proposition to meet the particular needs of school and community needs.
The ongoing Project Governing Group meetings have been effective for early identification of issues and establishing solutions that meet contractual requirements but work for project partners and their communities.
What distinguishes Project Energize from many other health and activity initiatives is that the project has people committed to its success embedded within the schools. The Energizers are on site to provide research, resources, training, and implementation plans in support of physical activity and nutrition initiatives.
Project Energize is a highly successful project collaboration which has drawn funding and expertise from across the Waikato’s health, sport and community sector to impact every child in the region.
www.projectenergize.org.nz
Updated | 29 May 2009.
Skip page tools.
