ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA was joined by ACT Education and Sport and Recreation Minister, Andrew Barr MLA and SmartStart Founder, Robert de Castella, to announce a $800,000 four-year funding commitment to SmartStart for Kids.  In 2009, the $200,000 from the ACT will compliment an equal commitment from the Commonwealth to significantly increase the number of schools and children that will be able to particiapte in SmartStart for Kids and the follow up health and fitness recovery program HELP (Healthy Exercise and Living Program).  SmartStart will work closely with the ACT Education Department and the Catholic Education Office to identify schools that will benefit most for SmartStart.

We have recently received notification that SmartStart for Kids, our Not for Profit program’s,  application to the Commonwealth Health Department’s, Healthy Active Australian Communities and Schools Grants Program, has been successful and we will be able to roll SmartStart and HELP out to aproximately ten schools and 3,000 chidlren over 2009.

The SmartStart for Kids program will work with specially selected schools that have the greatest need for these types of program, and we look forward to working with the ACT Education and Health Departments in this exciting opportunity.

HELP and SmartStart has been shown to significnatly increase children’s enjoyment, confidence, understanding and physical abilities, especially with those children most at risk of becoming overweight or obese adults.

New Staff
Tom Armstead has joined us and takes over Alex’s role as oversighting and managing the SmartStart for Kids program. Alex has been lured off to the US and we wish her all the best in her exciting work there.

Tom has a Bachelor of Coaching Science from University of Canberra and also Certificate III and IV in Fitness.

Already he has become an integral part of our small and dynamic team, and is working closely with the schools.

If you or your school, club or organisation are interested in finding out more about SmartStart for Kids, or want to make a booking Tom can be contacted on 02 6260 5750 or email tom.a@smartstart.com.au

Narabundah Primary School HELP
Recently we finished the HELP Project, funded by the Rotary Club of Hall, and the Farmers Markets. The program saw all children at the school participate in before and after Health and Fitness Checks, and an intensive seven week program of active games and health educational activites.

We saw some amazing results, with over 60% improving both cardio fintess and standing long jump.

Also 43% of the students reduced body fat (BIA), with an average reduction of 5% over just the 7 weeks! One 12 year old boy reduced his body fat by a massive 15%.

Congratulations to all invovled, and again thanks very much to teh Rotary Club of Hall for theior generaous support of the program.

We welcome to SmartStart Alex Edwards, our most recent team member. Alex has come on as our Kids and Program Coordinator and will head up all operations of SmartStart for Kids in primary schools.

Alex is a qualified PDHPE teacher having completed her Human Movement and Health Education degree with Honours from Sydney University.� She also has a Level III Fitness Certificate; is a Sports Medicine Australia Sports Trainer and is looking to complete har Primary Teaching degree this year.

If you are interested in having SmartStart visit your school, please contact Alex at alex.e@smartstart.com.au or 02 6260 5750.

A new year, 2008! Sounds good.

What a wonderful time to make new commitments and positive changes.

We all have things that we know we SHOULD be doing for our health, fitness and wellbeing, but for one reason or another just haven’t done them.

Well the start of a new year is a great opportunity to make that extra effort and actually do it!

These days I am constantly told by parents, employees and employers just how difficult it is to fit it all in. It’s true, these modern days when we were all supposed to have more leisure time seem to be busier than ever.

This means that it is more important that ever for you to put yourself in a position of control, and not get pushed and pulled by other people’s agendas. After all it is YOUR life. It is NOW you must identify what priorities and goals YOU want to achieve this year, and write down the three or four things that YOU need to do to achieve these goals.

Be smart about your planning and get help if you struggle with motivation or aren’t sure what you need to do. Help can come from many places, family, friends, trainers, coaches, work colleagues, books, magazines, website, etc.

The greatest motivation is actually seeing results, and that’s one of the reasons we are so committed to benchmarking. Not only does this allow you to identify exactly what you need to focus on, but it also enables you determine whether what you are doing is actually working. And when it does work, actually seeing positive results if a great reward and often enough to keep you going.

Remember, it’s not about making short-term changes, but actually making positive changes that you can embrace fully and have them become part of the new you. We at SmartStart are here to help as well, so contact us and we’ll show you how easy it is too live smart.

A new you for a new year – sounds good!