Semantics matter for our kids health

Attending a recent RESPOND workshop left me shaking my head about the words and images we are using to get the change we want in our community. First up, what a great initiative by Deakin Uni to support communities in NE Vic to understand the range of social, economic and environmental variables affecting childhood obesity which community-led  collaboration could address. I left inspired, but that’s a solutions focused blog for another day.

Now to the head shaking. I’ve banged on a bit in other Blogs about Municipal Health and Wellbeing Policies (MHWP) and the 13 social determinants of health (SDH) - Food insecurity is one (and my interest of course). So a quick look over the RCOW Corporate structure shows the Manager of Community Services being responsible for a bag of areas that I’d call Community Health and Wellbeing, and they’re responsible to the Director Community and Infrastructure. So who in the tangle of roots of corporate structure is responsible for the Health and Wellbeing of the community and where does Health and Wellbeing sit in the council's corporate plan since it engulfed the MHWP? 

In the Open Space Plan created in 2012 it acknowledges that people engage in healthy activities beyond sporting clubs - like cycling and walking.  But where are all the other healthy informal activities Wangites do and how do they get recognised in this new Open Space Plan? 

Here in 2023 when I rocked up to a survey session about Open Space planing as a community garden member the interviewee was red faced because they didn’t know Wangaratta had a Community Garden-and they were the ones who created the survey!  Now that was a red rag to me.  I went home and found the survey, and completed it.  One mention of Garden.  ONE.  Second red rag.  Then looking over the invitation from council (portion shown above) refers to the survey - what survey? Once you click on it, you find out. Me, I saw green grass and assumed it was for sporting clubs or a advertisement for sports bet. Third red rag... Pattern? 

Then I got it.  It’s the way we talk about and visualise things that matters.  We talk about sport and rec and show manicured turf.  It’s not inclusive for people who are active but don’t see themselves as the sporty or recreational types.  Where do the Scouts or Guides fit into this?  Or all those edible gardeners, sustainability geeks, and Landcare activists?  Is U3A sport and Rec?  Does CWA fit the mold and what about the quilters and knitters?  These are community groups who look after and support members' physiological, creative, social and mental wellbeing.  And do so quietly, without fanfare because there is a basic need.  And they do no harm - no knee injuries or head injuries, no time off work.

Sport and rec is binary.  You are either sporty and recreational or not.   Sport and rec is based on a few assumptions.  That you have the time, energy, skills, equipment, money, car and capacity to participate.  These are barriers. They are becoming elitist, polarising, or a status symbol - and don’t get me started on active wear.  Sport and rec are leaving people behind.  No-where do I hear edible gardening or Scouts in sport and rec. Funny that edible gardening and being a Scout are both ways to learn life skills without getting concussion, and limit access to alcohol consumption and gambling.  

Those with leisure time and resources can call their pursuits sport and rec.  Those with no leisure time and fighting to keep the household above water and ensure the kids have the skills for a better tomorrow may call their activities life skills.  But there is no status in life skills, no wide recognition in the community, and no university degree called the Bachelor of Life Skills (yet!).

So let's call it what it is, and fund it, resource it and celebrate life skills accordingly.  While we are at it, let's focus on health and wellbeing and not Sport and Rec.  Then we may see childhood obesity start to decline because all kids and parents feel included.  Here’s to the new Director of Health, Wellbeing and Life Skills.