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DRAFT Heckler article

 

Using the skills of seasoned volunteer "Go To" sports administrators

In Oct 2008 the Preventive Health Taskforce released a Discussion Paper which asserted "there is an urgent and immediate need to address the growing prevalence of obesity and overweight in Australia." and adopting a 'learning by doing' approach.

That Discussion Paper cited a recent US study Prevention for a Healthier America that estimated for every US$1 invested in "proven community-based disease prevention programs", the return on investment over and above the $1 per head cost of the program would be US$5.60 within five years.  

The Taskforce's Final Report titled "Australia: the healthiest country by 2020" June 2009 to Minister for Health & Ageing did not announce any new community-based disease prevention program.

At the suggestion of one of the Taskforce members, in Aug 2008 the writer, with a lifetime in voluntary sports administration, and 18 years experience financing major infrastructure projects, began posting to Population Health Division, Dept of Health & Ageing, regular CDs containing further R&D of a community-based disease prevention program known as Youthful Exuberance Lifestyle Programme.  YELP is structured along the lines of successful programs noted in the afore-mentioned Prevention for a Healthier America.  YELP's Forecast Return On YELP Capex is at least tenfold within 5 years because its delivery costs are so low.

The Chair of the Taskforce, Dr. Rob Moodie, wrote to the writer in April 2009 acknowledging receipt of the writer's continued research and concluded "Best wishes for the continued development of the programme". 

In March 2010 the Medical Journal of Australia published a report which identified the cost of Overweight and Obesity in Australia in 2004/2005 was $56.6 billion.

GPs have long been the front line treater of obesity and related diabetes.  In June 2007 "A new approach to primary care for Australia" by Jennifer Doggett from the Centre For Policy Development, which argued the merits of super clinics, noted that "There are few resources available for GPs and other primary care providers to work proactively to prevent the development of obesity in their community in the first place." 

Earlier this month, the Taskforce's deputy chairman, Mike Daube, announced  "The obesity crisis is not on its way - it is already here......What we have done about obesity is not working. This issue needs concentrated and determined action."

Unlike so many other primary care programs, YELP draws on eleven specific sports administration attributes which include Walk the Talk motivational skills, liability risk management acumen and a manifest sense of community that 2% of Australians, aged between 50 and 60 years, possess.  These are the organisers of many local bicycle user groups, bushwalking clubs, triathlon clubs, kayaking groups, annual ocean swims, etc who have provided their services, generally gratis, for many years, and who hold the respect of many like minded local citizens that they have assisted transition into one of hiking, cycling, kayaking, ocean swimming, triathlon etc.

Consistent with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' Golden Gurus mentoring programme, YELP proposes that 20 of these successful "Go To" sports administrators, approaching retirement or recently retired, be known as Recreational Exercise Consultants who would perform eleven duties and obligations to supervise interested adults into a nearby recreational exercise group which incorporates a local community common bond support group.  A YELP 20 months Pilot could launch on 13 Aug 2011 to achieve by end-2016, 165,000 fitter, stronger Australians better able to work (from 2023) to a 67 pension age.