Last week, we were proud to sponsor and speak at the 2024 WSYD Moving Symposium. The event was attended by participants from across academia, sports science, community and health sectors with the vision of talking inactivity and inequity in Western Sydney.
Inactivity leads to high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, and costs Western Sydney around $1.5 billion each year.1 These health problems are especially prevalent in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, where residents face greater health disparities compared to other regions, highlighting the critical importance of physical activity for community wellbeing.
Among the speakers at the symposium, was our Senior Program Manager, Scott Walters, who delivered a keynote presentation on System Partners and Prioritising a Preventative Health Agenda alongside Kathy Lindsay, 2kg Campaign Manager and Sarah Driscoll, Diabetes Prevention Manager, Western Sydney Diabetes.
Scott also chaired a panel discussion around enhancing accessibility to movement opportunities across the aged and disability sector, with panellists including a social entrepreneur, CEO of a peak national health and fitness industry association and multicultural service providers, SydWest Multicultural Services and Settlement Services International.
The symposium was the inaugural launch of the Tackling Inactivity and Inequity White Paper which highlights the barriers residents in Western Sydney face in accessing physical activity and advocates for a comprehensive systems approach to promote active lifestyles and address inequities in recreational access.
Read more about our chronic health programs to support your patients in our latest annual review.
[1] Tackling Inactivity and Inequality in Western Sydney – A Systems Approach, Centre for Western Sydney and WSYD Moving, 2024.
Information is correct as of 28 November 2024.