The Active In‑Betweens initiative is a healthy lifestyle and resilience program for 8- to 12-year-olds across the Illawarra. It provides opportunities for children to eat and learn about healthy food and connect positively with peers and supportive adults.
Thanks to Michelle Barry, the team leader for child health promotion for Healthy Cities Illawarra, for taking time to tell us more.
What is the Active In-Betweens program?
Active In-Betweens program is an after-school healthy living and resilience program for children aged 8-12 years old. It is an evidence-based program which supports children on meeting nutritional needs, building physical activity and skill building in this important pre-teen age.
The children have the opportunity to eat and learn about healthy food and connect positively with peers and supportive trauma-informed staff. They are supported to learn about interpersonal behaviours that contribute to positive physical and mental health, plus activities to connect them with their social and neighbourhood services in their area.
Each week is different and we’ve done activities such as boxing, drone flying, colour runs, cooking, op shop adventures, bowling, pottery and many more. It’s also child-directed as sometimes a child will just want to shoot some hoops or chill in a sensory corner/have a chat with staff, and we’re here to meet the child emotionally where they are at that day.
But if you ask the children, they just say it’s fun whilst learning and trying new things!
How do we aim to improve health outcomes?
Social Inequities in childhood affect health and development and Active In-Betweens seeks to address this. It is currently based at five different locations across the Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs.
Healthy Cities Illawarra and the program has long-standing community connections in Bellambi, Warrawong and Horsley, and this year, it has expanded into Shellharbour and Warilla. Each location has two staff and three volunteers with a consistent male and female staff member which is important for building key relationships and trust in positive role models.
The activities we run with the children are also supported in a parallel learning element with the parents through closed Facebook groups specific to each area. The guardians of the children attending are informed of the activities we have done and the important health topics focused on, with tips to continue them into the home.
The program is free (thanks to funding and donations) to attend for children in these communities and we have a strong focus on collaboration with local services and families. These elements are integral to building relationships and ultimately our aim to have positive long-term impacts on the health outcomes in these communities.
How do you find more information about the program?
We’re always looking for financial support and volunteers for this worthwhile program. If you think this is something you’d like to pursue, please contact our office on 02 4283 8111 or email admin@healthycities.org.au
If your child or a child you know would enjoy this program, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact ElizabethB@healthycities.org.au or call 02 4283 8111 to have a chat about enrolment.
For more information on Active In-Betweens, visit the website.
Visit healthycities.org.au and follow @healthycitiesillawarra on social media.
