Download the 2022 Health Promoting Schools Calendar HERE

Schools provide a unique environment in which children can develop learned behaviours conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Children five to fifteen years of age spend a large proportion of their time at school which provides an opportunity for teachers to role model, teach and provide opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity messages. School canteens are also an integral part of the food environment by providing food services to students and opportunities for them to make informed consumer choices that cement messages taught in the classroom.

Good for Kids, Good for Life supports the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity by children across the Hunter and New England regions. Good for Kids, Good for Life began as a demonstration project between 2006-2010. Research undertaken by the program demonstrated how to support schools to implement practices to promote better child nutrition and physical activity[1][2][3][4]. Good for Kids is now funded as part of the state-wide Healthy Children’s Initiative that was modelled on the Good for Kids demonstration project and its research findings[5][6][7][8].

[1] Wolfenden L, Nathan N, Janssen LM, Wiggers J, Reilly K, Delaney T, Williams CM, Bell C, Wyse R, Sutherland R, Campbell L, Lecathelinais C, Oldmedow C, Freund M, Yoong SL. Multi-strategic intervention to enhance implementation of healthy canteen policy: A randomised controlled trial. Implementation Science. 2017;12(1). doi:10.1186/s13012-016-0537-9

[2] Nathan N, Wolfenden L, Butler M, Bell A, Wyse R, Campbell E, Milat A, Wiggers J. Adoption of Vegetable and Fruit Breaks in Australian Primary Schools: prevalence, attitudes, barriers and implementation strategies. Health Education Research. 2011;26(4):722-31

[3] Nathan N, Wolfenden L, Bell AC, Wyse R, Morgan PJ, Butler M, Sutherland R, Milat AJ, Hector D, Wiggers J. Effectiveness of a multi-strategy intervention in increasing the implementation of vegetable and fruit breaks by Australian primary schools: a non-randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health .2012;12:651

[4] Wiggers J, Wolfenden L, Campbell E, Gillham K, Bell C, Sutherland R, Hardy LL, King L, Gruiseit A, Milat AJ, Orr N. Good for Kids. Good for Life: Evaluation report 2006-2010: Evaluation Report. Sydney: NSW Ministry of Health. 2013.

[5] Wolfenden L, Nathan N, Janssen LM, Wiggers J, Reilly K, Delaney T, Williams CM, Bell C, Wyse R, Sutherland R, Campbell L, Lecathelinais C, Oldmedow C, Freund M, Yoong SL. Multi-strategic intervention to enhance implementation of healthy canteen policy: A randomised controlled trial. Implementation Science. 2017;12(1). doi:10.1186/s13012-016-0537-9

[6] Nathan N, Wolfenden L, Butler M, Bell A, Wyse R, Campbell E, Milat A, Wiggers J. Adoption of Vegetable and Fruit Breaks in Australian Primary Schools: prevalence, attitudes, barriers and implementation strategies. Health Education Research. 2011;26(4):722-31.

[7] Nathan N, Wolfenden L, Bell AC, Wyse R, Morgan PJ, Butler M, Sutherland R, Milat AJ, Hector D, Wiggers J. Effectiveness of a multi-strategy intervention in increasing the implementation of vegetable and fruit breaks by Australian primary schools: a non-randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health .2012;12:651.

[8] Wiggers J, Wolfenden L, Campbell E, Gillham K, Bell C, Sutherland R, Hardy LL, King L, Gruiseit A, Milat AJ, Orr N. Good for Kids. Good for Life: Evaluation report 2006-2010: Evaluation Report. Sydney: NSW Ministry of Health. 2013.