Funding available for programs that get older people moving

The City of Greater Bendigo is encouraging local sporting groups, recreation providers and other organisations to express their interest in applying for funding to run programs to help get older residents up and moving through the Move It project.

The Australian Government through Sport Australia’s Move It AUS initiative has awarded the ten Loddon Mallee Region Group of Councils $1.838 million over two years to implement  a Move It project in the region.

Move It aims to get inactive older Australians active, enhance older Australians’ understanding of the benefits of regular physical activity, including physical and mental wellbeing, and the benefits of social connectedness and enhance the capability and capacity of organisations and staff responsible for delivering age-appropriate activities to older Australians.

The Loddon Mallee Move it project aims to reach over 70,000 people over the age of 65 by offering new and modified sport and recreation activities and by raising the awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity.

Funding ranging from $106,000 to $126,000 is available for a maximum of two projects in each of the participating local government areas and the expression of interest process runs until July 26, 2019.

City of Greater Bendigo Community Wellbeing Manager Chris Kelly said around 20 per cent of the Loddon Mallee region’s 332,000 residents are aged 65 and over.

“Statistically older people across the region have poorer health and wellbeing than the Victorian average,” Ms Kelly said.

“There are higher levels of obesity and chronic disease and many older people have low levels of physical activity.

“Through Move it we hope to get more of our older people moving and enjoying the benefits of regular physical activity.  We are encouraging regional sports assemblies, tertiary institutions, primary care partnerships and incorporated not-for-profit sport and recreation providers to consider applying for funding to run programs through the initiative in Greater Bendigo.”

Eligible organisations can apply for funding from the project to provide new or modified physical activity programs for people aged 65 and over.  Funding is available to build  workforce and volunteer capacity, implement organisational culture change to support age-friendly environments and provide better engagement with older people and promote the benefits of physical activity to older people.

The 10 participating councils in the Loddon Mallee Region group include City of Greater Bendigo, Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City Councils and the Shires of Macedon Ranges, Buloke, Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon, Goldfields and Mount Alexander.

More information on the expression of interest process is available from www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Moveit