Program Development
The YMCA also develops, implements and evaluates physical programs tailored to meet specific needs.
Our current programmes include:
YMCA School Wellness Programs
Children are becoming increasingly vulnerable to obesity and associated health issues. YMCA recognises the importance of teaching children the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and providing opportunities for them to participate in physical activities and sport.
Our YMCA School Wellness Programs (YMCA Active & YMCA Strong Kids) are aimed at year 6/7 students, helping children to make positive choices during the transition from primary school to high school. This age group has been shown to be at great risk of decreasing their physical activity if they have not found a sport or activity that they are involved in.
YMCA Strong Kids
Edith Cowan University’s Dr Michael McGuigan and Professor Robert Newton have shown the positive effects that resistance training has on the body composition of overweight and obese children. Based on this research, the YMCA and Edith Cowan University have developed the YMCA Strong Kids Program.
Delivered in Perth primary schools, this Federal Government funded program aims to combat increasing levels of childhood obesity in Australia by introducing children to the benefits of resistance training as well as providing nutrition and lifestyle guidance.
YMCA Active
This innovative in-school program has been developed and run by YMCA Perth in partnership with local schools, sporting clubs and recreation centres. The YMCA Active program is aimed at increasing the participation of children in physical activity by linking students with sporting opportunities through their school, local sports clubs and recreation centres. With funding provided by the WA Department of Sport and Recreation, and Local Government, the YMCA is able to provide this program free to both schools and students.
YMCA Active is a 12-month program aligned with the school terms. Over the course of the school year, students participate in a variety of activities which culminate in an end of year YMCA Active Expo.
YMCA Active has been recognised on numerous occasions for the program's success in engaging young people and encouraging their participation in physical activity. This success was most recently highlighted by YMCA Active winning the Department Of Sport And Recreations Award for Commitment to Participation in 2007.
My Time
"My Time" is an outreach health and wellness program designed to help the residents of retirement villages become more active and establish physical activity as regular behaviour.
In particular the "My Time" initiative focuses on providing resistance training opportunities for older adults complemented by a variety of education seminars. Exercise, particularly resistance training, has been shown to be the most effective way to actively avoid losing muscle with age. Numerous studies over the last decade have shown convincingly that resistance exercise training can improve muscle strength and power and improve the ability to perform the tasks of daily living.
One of the key goals of "My Time" is to ensure its ongoing sustainability. The YMCA intends to achieve this by inviting a representative from each village to complete a Certificate lll Fitness Certificate through the YMCA Perth's RTO. Over the course of the 12-month period this person will be further mentored by the YMCAs instructor enabling the program to continue in both the retirement villages post the initial funding period.
"My Time" is funded by the WA Department of Sport and Recreation and is currently delivered in two retirement villages in the City Of Rockingham and the City Of Bayswater, with the participants in both these programs demonstrating huge gains in their health and wellbeing.
Swim for Life
The YMCA, with support from community stakeholders, provided the opportunity for Indigenous youth to take part in a training and development program leading to a Bronze Medallion. This represents the minimum requirement needed to work as a qualified lifeguard in Western Australia.
Participants in our 2009 pilot program were drawn from Hedland Senior High School and Warralong Remote Community School, with the support of their teachers being instrumental to the success of the program.
Swim for Life provided a platform for positive engagement and the achievement of outcomes for Indigenous youth in the categories of Employment, Education & Training and Personal Health and Well Being.
The YMCA now employs 9 Indigenous lifeguards who have completed the course, making up a third of the YMCA’s Hedland workforce, representing a ground breaking model of Indigenous engagement and significant personal achievement for individual participants.
The project is based on collaboration and mutual respect. It has been a catalyst for positive engagement and achievement by young Indigenous Australians and has addressed entrenched community disadvantage. Swim for Life program is planned to be successfully repeated in our regional and metropolitan Recreation Centres.
For more information on the any of these programs please use the contact details below:
YMCA Perth Recreation
Address: PO Box 2155, Carlisle North WA 6101
Tel: (08) 9473 8400
Fax: (08) 9472 7522
Email: perth@ymca.org.au
A fitter you starts with the Y
Better well-being starts with the Y
|