Go for your life
The Victorian Government is committed to improving the health and well-being of all Victorians. By highlighting simple things we can do each day to stay healthy, happy and active, the Government wants to help Victorians get the most out of life.
This includes promoting opportunities for:
- increasing levels of physical activity
- improving eating habits
- getting involved with neighbourhood and local community activities
- making worthwhile contributions to the community, such as through volunteering
The Go for your life Strategic Plan 2006-2010 outlines a co-ordinated cross Government framework to address the issues of physical inactivity, rising rates of obesity and diabetes, and increasing social isolation.
Go for your life provides a platform for increasing awareness of the benefits of and opportunities for becoming more physically active, improving eating habits, and increasing community participation. The campaign is supported by a range of strategic, community-based programs and services, designed to stimulate positive attitudinal and behavioural change across Victoria. Sport and Recreation Victoria is funding a range of new
Go for your life programs and projects including:Active Places – working with disadvantaged communities
Active Connections – working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
Flagship Bike Plan – including Bike Shed Seeding Grants for schools and the expansion of the Ride2School program
Get Active Challenge – targeting men’s health
Healthy and Active Choices
Integration of Walking and Cycling
Reclink Australia
Walk Together Grants Program
Active Places– working with disadvantaged communities
The Active Places program aims to promote the benefits of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. The funded projects will focus on working with local communities to determine how they can become more physically active and encourage them to both lead and be involved in programs that promote physical activity. The Program works within Community Renewal, 
Neighbourhood Renewal or Community Building Initiative sites. The following four projects commenced in 2007-08:
- Laverton Community Renewal
- Terang Community Building Initiative
- Broadmeadows Neighbourhood Renewal
- Ashwood, Ashburton and Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal
The following five projects are to commence in 2008-09:
- East Reservoir Neighbourhood Renewal
- Heathdale Neighbourhood Renewal
- South East Gippsland (Regional Management Forum identified site)
- Upper Yarra Community Building Initiative
- Whittington Community Renewal
Active Connections – working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
The Active Connections Program aims to address barriers to participation in physical activity in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Three pilot projects will be undertaken in two settings – State Sporting Associations and Community Organisations. Netball Victoria, the Royal Victorian Bowls Association and the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues are working with Sport and Recreation Victoria to develop these projects.
Ride2School program
The Ride2School Program aims to increase the number of children riding to and from school. The Ride2School program targets primary and secondary schools across the State. The project includes state-wide ‘activity challenges’ to encourage school students to cycle and to participate in cycling events like Ride2School Day. Four thousand free bicycles will be distributed as part of this program as rewards and prizes.
Get Active Challenge
The Get Active Challenge was a 10 week program targeting men’s health and physical activity levels, based in Victorian workplaces. The program challenged men to increase their physical activity levels. Find out more about the Get Active Challenge.
Healthy and Active Choices
The Healthy and Active Choices pilot project aims to reinforce the messages of healthy eating, physical activity and healthy lifestyle by facilitating the provision and uptake of healthy food choices at regional sports facilities. Organisations taking part in the project are YMCA facilities (Ashburton Pool and Boroondara Sports Complex), Ballarat City Council (Ballarat Aquatic Centre), and Hume City Council (Broadmeadows Leisure Centre). Deakin University have been appointed to undertake an initial assessment of the current catering operations at the four facilities, to provide advice and assistance to the facility operators, and to undertake a formative evaluation of the project.
Integration of Walking and Cycling
Sport and Recreation Victoria are working with Government departments and agencies as well as non-Government organisations and peak bodies to develop an integrated approach to walking and cycling across Victoria. The project has identified the need for a longer term vision for investment in walking and cycling and a strategy is currently being developed.
RecLink Australia
Sport and Recreation Victoria provides funding to
RecLink Australia, to support its excellent work in providing valuable sport, recreation and social opportunities to enhance the lives of people experiencing social and economic disadvantage. Through funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria,
RecLink is building upon its substantial relationships with member agencies, and is continuing to provide a broad range of participation opportunities to Victorians experiencing disadvantage.Find out more about the RecLink’s Go for your life
Flagship project.‘Go for your life’ Flagship Projects
The following ‘Go for your life’ Flagship projects are nearing completion and continue to be supported by Sport & Recreation Victoria.
Active Cabbies: Moving People
Drivers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are being encouraged to get active with the Active Cabbies: Moving People project. Developed by Victoria University, this project will teach drivers the benefits of an active lifestyle as well as gaining valuable insight into the current health status of some of Melbourne’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Active Families
The Active Families project, which aims to foster increased activity levels among single parents with young children’ project is nearing completion.
The project, delivered by the Victorian YMCA, aimed to encourage and enable sole parents of children under the age of twelve to become more active.
Find out more about the Active Families Go for your life
Flagship project.Fun ‘n’ Healthy in Moreland!
Fun ‘n’ Healthy in Moreland! is an exciting and unique project aimed at developing and putting in place school and community based initiatives that promote healthy eating choices, increased physical activity and improved social health and well-being for children and families. Deakin University and the Moreland Community Health Service are working in partnership with the local Moreland community to deliver this flagship project. Find out more about the Fun ‘n’ Healthy in Moreland! Go for your life
Flagship project. 
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