Media releases

The Sport and Recreation Spatial – Sport Participation Research Project has taken home health promotion foundation VicHealth’s Research into Action Award for its efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of the community at the 2017 VicHealth Awards.

The Sport and Recreation Spatial – Sport Participation Research Project analyses and reports annually on sport participation for 12 major sports in Victoria, to support decision making and investments in sport. This is the largest repository of sport participation data in Australia.

Associate Professor Rochelle Eime said receiving a 2017 VicHealth Award was a tremendous honour.

“It’s wonderful to see all of the hard work from our Sport and Recreation Spatial research team acknowledged and to be recognised as a leader in health promotion at the prestigious VicHealth Awards,” Associate Professor Eime said.

 “The VicHealth Awards highlights the critical role of health promotion in keeping Victorians happy and well and we look forward to continuing to work in this sector to ensure more Victorians benefit.”

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said the VicHealth Award winners demonstrate the huge range, value and influence of health promotion in Victoria.

“I congratulate all the finalists, highly commended and winning projects for continuing the world-leading health promotion work Victoria is renowned for,” Ms Rechter said.

“These community organisations, arts or research bodies, health services, local councils and major sporting codes are tackling some of Victoria’s biggest health issues and have made a huge difference to the lives of many Victorians.

“This year’s winners have embedded health promotion into their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of your communities – and Victoria is all the better for it.

“This research project provided an incredible set of data on how Victorians are taking part in sport and recreation to better support state and local government funding decisions so community sport responds to community need.”

 “We’re incredibly proud to celebrate health promotion in Victoria and congratulations to Federation University Australia and Victoria University and all of the inspiring winners for their achievements.”

For a full list of winners and more information about the 2017 VicHealth Awards, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/awards