Grant to boost health and wellbeing

Lift, bounce, jab: College sports leaders Ben, Gus, Abby and Amelia are keen to get active in their soon-to-be upgraded school gym. Photos: EDWINA WILLIAMS

STUDENTS at Woodmans Hill Secondary College will have more sports resources and opportunities to get active with the help of a new State funding package.

The school has received an Active Schools grant worth nearly $48,000 that aims to support an initiative designed to improve students’ overall fitness, sports skills, confidence, health and wellbeing.

It will also fund new physical education and sporting equipment and resources, and outdoor education and co-curricular activities.

Sports leader and year 10 student Ben said he was grateful for the funding, which will assist in engaging learners of all backgrounds and experiences in fitness.

“Not everyone is into sport, but new equipment and facilities will help to make more kids interested in sport, give them more confidence and ability, and improve their fitness,” he said.

“If you start to get fit now, you’re more likely to keep that up years into the future.”

Principal, Stephan Fields, said the Active Schools grant will mean students and the broader community can access resources to boost health and wellbeing and physical skills.

In 2020, the College received funding from the State Budget to update their indoor recreation facility.

The works worth $272,125 recently got underway, including the replacement of the gym floor, change and toilet facilities and new basketball hoops.

“When I came here in 2019, we had about 320 students, with a year 7 intake of 40. Next year, the intake will be 100-plus, so we need more facilities, specialist classrooms, and more funding,” Mr Fields said.

Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, visited the College last week to see progress made on the indoor recreation facility, which she said is not only an asset the school, but home of Futsal Ballarat.

“We know that regular physical activity makes a huge difference to young people’s mental and physical health, as well as their education outcomes,” she said.

“I want to congratulate everyone at Woodmans Hill for their work to keep young Victorians active, fit and healthy.”