Citation

Cass Y, Price P, Rimes T. Health Promot. J. Austr. 2005; 16(2): 134-137.

Affiliation

Health Promotion Service, South Eastern Sydney and Illlawarra Area Health Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales. cassy@sesahs.nsw.gov.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Australian Health Promotion Association, Publisher CAIRO Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16130589

Abstract

ISSUE ADDRESSED: This paper investigates a school health promotion grants scheme as a strategy for increasing opportunities and support for schools to undertake a whole-school approach to health issues of their choice. METHOD: The School Health Incentive Program (SHIP) is an ongoing initiative offering annual grants and tailored support from health and education professionals. SHIP commenced in 2000 in the former South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (SESAHS), New South Wales. It is a partnership between the Health Promotion Service (HPS), the three education sectors, parent groups, other health services and The Cancer Council NSW. RESULTS: Over the period 2000-04 SHIP awarded 103 grants to 71 schools from SESAHS, representing about 32,000 students. Average grant funding per student reached was $2.50. Schools used the Health Promoting Schools framework to plan and implement their health activities. Results included positive outcomes in the areas of curriculum planning, policy and procedure development, changes to physical and social environments and the development of partnerships between the school and the health sector, other organisations, parents and other schools. CONCLUSIONS: SHIP developed partnerships between health, education sectors and schools, encouraged schools to adopt a whole-school approach to health issues, and supported the development of subsequent health-focused initiatives.

Language: en