The policy environment for physical activity in Australia Design and implementation in Western Australia Discuss A case study, Western Australia A supportive environment for physical activity implementation Effective, sustained, strategic implementation supported by adequate infrastructure Australia, a critical observation Nationally, a good history of solid policy development; but slow uptake of sustained infrastructure support for implementing those polices and plans Policy development success implementation failure? Sustained infrastructure required for successful (implementation of) policies and plans Physical activity guidelines (and guides) Regular Monitoring: population physical activity monitoring Environment and systems monitoring Monitoring of implementation dose Health system reorientation to support prevention and health promotion Increased investment in comprehensive interventions Fiscal mechanisms to ensure adequate and sustained funding for prevention Central agency support, a National Prevention Agency Strengthening physical activity workforce development and training Buy-in, reorientation from other systems (education, transport, urban planning environment, sport and recreation) Structures and mechanisms for cross-government ways of working Increased / ongoing investment in physical activity research evaluation of effectiveness (knowledge transfer) Based on: Shilton TR (2008), JPAH, 5:765-776; Bull et al. (2004). JSMS. 7(1);93-104; Bellew et al., (2008) ANZJHP. 5(18); 1-10. 1
A case study Western Australia 1. A high level entity for cross-sector collaboration and joined-up planning Overarching strategies Policy. Promoting active public policy Promotion Raising public awareness, developing skills, knowledge and understanding for engagement and behaviour change in physical activity. Provision Providing environments and opportunities for physical activity across all populations and communities Partnerships Promoting partnership within and across sectors. Premiers Physical Activity Taskforce Strategic Pan 2007-2011 Vision: A physically active Western Australia Mission: To provide a strategic direction to increase and maintain the proportion of physically active people in Western Australia Settings schools workplaces neighbourhoods and community health services Sectors health education planning transport sport & recreation children & youth tourism crime prevention community dev t environment Priority populations children older adults low SES women indigenous CALD people with disabilities S A cross-sector Physical Activity Taskforce and State Physical Activity Strategic Plan Active participation of sectors - Health - Education - Planning and infrastructure - Sport and Recreation - Local Government - NGOs - Academics 2
Long-term commitment Physical Activity Taskforce - a ten year commitment Bipartisan support (survived two changes of Government) Mass media programs 2002-2010 2. Long-term commitment 3. Integrated, sustained and strategic social marketing Western Australia ongoing social marketing campaigns Find Thirty every day Adults: 2002-2010 (Heart Foundation since 2007) Media mix: TV, print, radio Signage and ambient media Printed materials Integration with other programs/sectors www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au Evaluated (cross-sectional and cohort) 3
Western Australia ongoing social marketing campaigns Draw the Line (weight, sitting less) Unplug & Play (children sit less) Make Tracks 2 School (children walking and cycling) Cycle instead, Walk There Today (transport programs) Cognitive Impact (proportion at preceding level) Proportion of preceding level % (n=696) Total Awareness 44.7 Comprehension 84 Acceptance 100 Intention 49.2 Action 41.5 Cognitive impact total population 0 10 20 30 40 50 Total Awareness Comprehension Acceptance Intention Action 7.7 18.7 37.5 37.5 44.7 4. A brand call to action 4
5. Buy-in, investment from sectors other than health Western Australia - Coordinated cross-sector physical activity commitments Education - Schools Mandatory 120 mins/week of Physical Activity in schools Active schools plan incorporating curriculum, teacher development and walking/cycling Transportation State Walking Strategy (2007-2020) (cross agency) Walk Week, Bike Week Sport and Recreation Healthy Active Workplace program Local Government Local activity grants Non-Government agencies Cross-sector buy-in and accountability F Outcome Strategies Target/KPI Lead and/or coordinating agency/ies Partners Key dates 6. Innovative and sustained funding models 5
Western Australia A novel fiscal mechanism to increase sustained funding for prevention Health promotion foundation Funded from tobacco tax hypothecation by Act of Parliament Earmarked for: health promotion programs* health promotion research*, and sponsorship of sport and the arts Government funding for integrated social marketing and monitoring 7. Professional mobilization * Physical activity is one of five nominated funding priorities Rapid information mobilization The Australian Physical Activity Network AusPAnet created August 2006 Managed by Heart Foundation and Sydney University 3,300 subscribers by June 2009 GOAL: Rapid and timely information dissemination to inform: - policy - practice - advocacy Training and capacity building 2 X 3 day training courses Bi-ennial national conferences 8. Commitment to monitoring and evaluation 6
Physical Activity Taskforce Evaluation and Monitoring Working Group Public servants, academics, NGOs activities Adult surveys Child and Adolescent surveys Physical activity monitoring system to monitor the implementation dose Well-evaluated sub-components (e.g. Find Thirty every day) 9. Well mobilized, strategic and professional advocacy Well mobilized advocacy Effective and active coalitions Children s physical activity coalition Public Health Advocacy Institute (supported collectively by NGOs) Strong leadership role for the Heart Foundation Consensus documents (10 point plans) Blueprint for an Active Australia (2009) Charter for Active Kids (2008) Strategic and focused approach to advocacy on five levels: Political advocacy Media advocacy and public relations Professional mobilization Community mobilization Advocacy from within organizations Infrastructure supports a report card Western Australia (rating /5) Doing well Existence of a policy and plan specifically for physical activity**** Regular population physical activity monitoring **** Buy-in, reorientation from other systems and sectors (education, transport, urban planning environment, sport and recreation) *** Structures and mechanisms for cross-government ways of working **** Integrated and sustained social marketing**** Well mobilized advocacy **** Doing relatively well Fiscal mechanisms to ensure adequate and sustained funding for prevention *** Monitoring of implementation dose and evaluation of effectiveness ** Increased investment in comprehensive interventions ** Strengthening physical activity workforce development and training ** Health system reorientation to support prevention and health promotion ** Not doing well Environment and systems monitoring * Increased / ongoing investment in physical activity research * 7
Conclusions Policy matters Effective, sustained, strategic implementation supported by adequate infrastructure matters more! Western Australia (while it can do better) is an interesting isolated laboratory to watch closely Thank you 8