The Government is committed to ensuring Tasmanian children have the best possible knowledge and experiences that will allow them to lead happy, healthy and active lives. As part of the Government’s Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan, the Student Health Initiative is one of a range of initiatives focussed on improving the health and wellbeing of students in Tasmanian schools, and ultimately working towards the goal to make Tasmania the healthiest population in Australia by 2025.

The Student Health Initiative supports a number of initiatives that already exist within schools and that are in the process of being implemented. Some of these include Move Well Eat Well, Health Promoting Schools, Respectful Relationships and Healthy Kids Tasmania.

The Student Health Initiative provides $2 million funding over four years to schools with the greatest need to partner with community organisations to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the school community. The focus will be on collaborative partnerships that are innovative, promote broad change in the school community and have a longer term focus.

The Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan also includes a commitment to have all Government schools working towards canteen accreditation by 2020. To support this commitment, a portion of the Student Health Initiative funding has been provided to the Tasmanian School Canteen Association.

The Student Health Initiative has four focus areas:

• Nutrition, food and agriculture
  • Example: Our Kitchen Garden at Moonah Primary School (PDF, 101KB), Big Things Grow Update 2017 (PDF, 2MB), Moonah Primary School – School Canteen Awards 2017 (PDF, 6MB)  and Moonah Primary School – Canteen Opening (PDF, 521 KB)
  • Example: Risdon Vale Primary School (PDF, 630KB) Update 2 (PDF, 521KB)  and Update 3 (PDF, 624KB)
  • Example:  Love in a Lunchbox at Clarendon Vale Primary School – Acquittal Report (PDF, 15MB)
  • Example: Bayview Secondary College (PDF, 700KB)
  • Example: Triabunna District High School (PDF 187KB)

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• Physical activity
  • Example: Scottsdale High School – Bikes Program (PDF, 120KB)
  • Example: Austins Ferry Primary School – Options Program (PDF, 391 KB)
• Drug education
• Emotional health and wellbeing

Schools are required to partner with a range of community organisations (PDF, 112KB) in delivering initiatives under the Student Health Initiate.

Invitations have been sent to eligible schools to apply for funding in Round 4 (2020). Applications close on 15 November 2019.

If you have any queries, please email curriculum@decyp.tas.gov.au