SWSPHN has teamed with Western Sydney University (WSU) and Wests Tigers to support an initiative to improve girls’ health and wellbeing through sport.
Beyond the 80 (BT80) is a family-based healthy lifestyle intervention for girls aged 7 to 11 years and their families in South Western Sydney.
The program will harness the popularity of the Wests Tigers National Rugby League club and use rugby league to engage families to promote health and well-being and address health priorities in the region.
Through participation, spectatorship and community engagement, sport has the potential to improve health outcomes, empower individuals and unite communities.
BT80 will be launched in September, initially as a feasibility study (phase 1), and involve about 30 families or 120 participants.
It will be delivered over 10 weeks and will include weekly education and physical activity sessions at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Education sessions will be delivered to girls and adult family members and will focus on building healthy family routines around key lifestyle behaviours, including: physical activity/sedentary behaviour, healthy eating, mental health and sleep.
Data will be collected on a range of health and wellbeing outcomes before and after taking part in the program. Based on findings from phase 1, the program will be optimised and delivered to a larger sample in the pilot trial (phase 2, 2024-25), before being rolled out on a large scale in phase 3.
SWSPHN, WSU and Wests Tigers share a vision to improve health and wellbeing in South Western Sydney.