#2328_WSLHD_CPH_YIR 2023_4A_WEB

HEALTH PROMOTION

Supporting healthy development of children aged 0-5

Professional development outcomes 2023: 401 eLearning completions (including from 16 newly trained services). 219 educators at 7 professional development online huddles. 57 educators attended a Fussy Eating webinar. 2 Fundamental Movement Skills through Dance workshop, with 65 participants. 2 Fundamental Movement Skills through Games workshops, with 41 educators attending. 31 educators from 8 Cumberland City Council ECEC services attended a Munch & Move workshop. 17 educators from 17 Blacktown City Council ECEC services attended a Munch & Move workshop. 25% increase in Blacktown Council service staff trained in Munch & Move after participation in staff training.

The evidence- and play-based Munch & Move program supports the healthy development of children attending Early Childhood Education Centres (ECEC) and Family Day Care Providers (FDCP) through practices related to healthy eating, physical activity, breast feeding and reducing screen time. Our Early Years team supports 475 ECEC and 19 FDCP across western Sydney to implement Munch & Move practices reaching approximately 32,000 local children and their families .

Service support Online, 1:1 service support with dedicated program support officer: 25 priority ECEC services (SEIFA Quintile 1 and 2). 30 newly trained services. 49 ECEC menu reviews. 3 new and improved bi-monthly service newsletters. 30 ECECs updated their physical activity and screen time policies for the 2023 Unplug & Play Policy Challenge.

Service reflection and consultation 130 services

completed a practice achievement survey.

2 Advisory Committee meetings held.

Sophia Cassano from the Early Years team.

“Menu planning is a difficult task for most – even dietitians at times! As part of the Munch & Move program, Early Childhood Education Centre directors are encouraged to work with their service cook or chef to develop a menu that complies with the NSW Caring for Children guidelines. As a Munch & Move support officer, we assist services in the menu planning process. I remember visiting a service in the Mount Druitt area, and sitting in the director’s office explaining and providing examples, I could see that she understood the information and felt confident to continue menu planning independently. This was very gratifying and a proud moment for me.” – Laura Atallah, Health Promotion Officer (Early Years, Munch & Move program)

Top 3 Munch & Move Practices achieved across ECECs and FDCP: 1. 2. Staff create a positive healthy eating environment (Practice 5): 94%

3.

Service monitors and reports on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity objectives annually as part of their continuous quality improvement process (Practice 16): 93%

Service provides a supportive Physical Activity environment (Practice 7): 90%

12

WSLHD Centre for Population Health Year in Review 2023