Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer says a new $22.9 million program will encourage sport and physical activity providers to focus on empowering older Australians to become more active.
Sport Australia will manage the Move It Aus - Better Ageing grants program, which was launched today by Federal Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie and is aimed at Australians aged 65 and over.
The number of Australians aged 65 and over is projected to more than double in the next 40 years1. Palmer said the Move It Aus - Better Ageing program would be an important step to encourage sport and physical activity providers to be adaptable and offer more options and products for older Australians.
"Australia’s demographics are shifting and while that presents a challenge in broader health terms, there’s a great chance for us as a sport industry to make a positive difference to the lives of older Australians through physical activity," Palmer said.
"Sport Australia recently launched our overarching national Move It Aus campaign, which encourages Australians of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to try and find 30 minutes of physical activity per day. The Move It Aus - Better Ageing Program is one of the next steps in bringing that awareness campaign to life in a real and practical way. Sport Australia looks forward to partnering with sports and physical activity providers to get older Australians moving more often.
"Our research tells us older Australians are motivated to be active, but their choice of sport and physical activities change with age. Sport needs to be adaptable to these changes."
Sport Australia’s AusPlay research shows that although overall physical activity levels drop as we age, the main motivations to be active remain almost the same. The main motivations for physical activity among Australians 65-and-over are: physical health and fitness (77.4 per cent); fun/enjoyment (39.4 per cent) and social reasons (26.1 per cent).
"It’s undeniable that sport and physical activity are beneficial to physical and mental health so as a sport industry we need to challenge ourselves to come up with innovative ways to help older Australians benefit from an active lifestyle.
"Sport Australia encourages sport and physical activity providers to consider partnerships that enhance the delivery of these projects."
Australian tennis legend and former Davis Cup captain, John Fitzgerald, helped launched the grants today in Canberra and is also encouraging older Aussies to get moving.
"Sport is integral to health and wellbeing for people of all ages. The Move It Aus - Better Ageing grants program is a fantastic initiative that will enable more opportunities for older Australians to get out and get active," Fitzgerald said.
"Tennis is a sport for life and can be played by people of all abilities; it’s great for keeping fit, healthy and socially connected, " he said, "I’ve been fortunate enough to play throughout my whole life and I hope that this funding means that more seniors get the opportunity to participate in tennis."
Applications open for Move It Aus - Better Ageing grants on 20 September and close 31 October 2018. Guidelines are available at sportaus.gov.au/betterageing
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