The Western Australian Government has allocated $11.35 million over three years, for a range of health promotion programs and campaigns to fight obesity and related diseases.

 

Health Minister Kim Hames said the funding would be shared between the National Heart Foundation of Australia (WA division), Cancer Council WA and the Australian Red Cross.

 

The funding will support a number of health promotion campaigns, parent education and food literacy programs that encourage healthy eating and physical activity.

 

Dr Hames said the new initiatives would have an increased focus on parents, to ensure they can access information and develop new skills to support a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their families.

 

He said the National Heart Foundation of Australia (WA division) would create a new healthy lifestyle campaign to better link messages and initiatives targeting diet and physical activity.

 

“This campaign will be a flagship initiative for WA Health and build on the success of programs such as the Find Thirty® every day, Go for 2&5® and Draw the Line campaigns,” he said.

 

The Cancer Council WA and the Australian Red Cross will both deliver a targeted food literacy program for adults to help them purchase and prepare healthy food for their families.