Yarrawonga College P-12 School Health and PE KLA leader Nicole Coates said the college has been lucky enough to receive an Active Schools Grant in both 2024 which has been effectively implemented and again in 2025, which the school will begin the process of planning on how to utilise it on schools’ return.
“Our 2024 grant was used in four manners,” Ms Coates said.
“To upskill PE teachers with PD’s and supplement our sports equipment to benefit student outcomes.
“To develop a lunchtime equipment borrowing system to increase student participation in physical activity outside of class time.
“To refurbish an unused space in our ECA into a fully functioning gym, by purchasing a range of functional gym equipment to be utilized in both class time and lunchtimes to engage students in the importance of lifelong movement skills and exercise.
“Lastly we purchased a house point scoreboard that is on display in the ECA to increase the awareness of a house running tally throughout the year and in turn engaging students in house spirit.
“We have seen a positive shift in students’ motivation and enthusiasm to be physically active both in and out of the classrooms and a show of appreciation from our students on the efforts we have gone to in implementing these items and processes.
“We hope that the engagement we have seen so far from our students continues to grow in this area as we will continue to develop and implement this ongoing Active schools grant.”
Since the initiative was launched in 2020, up to 500 schools in disadvantaged communities have shared in over $20 million in Active Schools Grants and funding boosts with schools using their Active Schools Grants in previous years to upskill PE teachers, purchase sports equipment, build outdoor learning spaces, make upgrades to playgrounds, install sensory play areas and implement programs such as bicycle education or dance.
The additional five schools in the local region that also received this great included: Wodonga West Primary School, Wodonga South Primary School, Benalla P-12 College, Moyhu Primary School and Wangaratta High School.
The Active Schools initiative focuses on finding opportunities to be active throughout the school day, whether in the classroom, at recess or lunch and getting to and from school.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said that sports and physical activity help young people in north east Victoria thrive.
“The Active Schools initiative is making sure that our local students have access to healthy ways to improve their health and wellbeing and nurture a love for sport,” Ms Symes said.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll added that the Victorian Government want kids to learn healthy habits at school.
“Even 15 minutes of physical activity can be all it takes to boost the overall wellbeing of our children,” Mr Carroll said.
“The Active Schools Program is a great program to help young people find an activity they love that helps them maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.”
