
Entries open for 2021 Active Australia Innovation Challenge
Media Release - 15 March 2021
The Heart Foundation is calling for entries in the 2021 Active Australia Innovation Challenge, which will award grants valued at $10,000 each for innovative community-based projects designed to get Aussies moving.
Up to 20 grants are on offer this year, which is twice as many as in previous challenges.
Heart Foundation Director of Active Living, Adjunct Professor Trevor Shilton, said physical inactivity is a key risk factor for heart disease, which continues to be the single leading cause of death in Australia.
In 2019, 18,244 Australians died from coronary heart disease, or about one every 29 minutes. It accounted for more than 10 per cent of all deaths that year.
“Yet fewer than half of all adult Australians meet national physical activity guidelines, which means they are not active enough for good heart health,” Professor Shilton said.
“Statistics like these make it more important than ever for Australians to find ways to get involved in a more active lifestyle.
“For a lot of Aussies, there’s a perception that ‘physical activity’ means joining a gym, jogging around their neighbourhood or playing organised sport.
“These are all legitimate forms of physical activity, but there are so many other fun and innovative ways for people of all fitness levels to be active in their communities.
“That’s why we run the Active Australia Innovation Challenge. It provides an opportunity for tertiary institutions, schools, councils, community groups and other organisations to tell us their great ideas for encouraging communities to get more active and live a healthier lifestyle.”
Past winners have included surf lessons for children with autism; a “silent disco” for aged-care residents; and cultural dance classes for people with impaired vision.
This is the fourth annual Active Australia Innovation Challenge.
“We want to build on the success of the first three challenges and look forward to hearing all the bright ideas from communities for new and interesting ways to boost physical activity in their local areas,” Professor Shilton said.
“We are thrilled to be able to have a higher number of grants available this year, so we encourage eligible organisations to start workshopping their ideas and preparing an entry. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!”
Entries will be open for six weeks from today (15 March 2021). Shortlisted applicants will have the chance to refine and pitch their projects before a panel of experts decides on up to 20 winners. They will each receive a grant of $10,000 to turn their project idea into a reality.
The Active Australia Innovation Challenge is part of the Healthy Heart Initiative, which is funded by the Australian Government. Visit the challenge page for full terms and conditions.
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join our community of fundraisers who are committed to taking action to fight heart disease....
Heart Week
Heart Week
Heart Week
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
Personal Walking Plan
Personal Walking Plan
Personal Walking Plan
Feel healthier and happier in six weeks with a free Personal Walking Plan...
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Trek for Australian Hearts
Trek for Australian Hearts
Trek for Australian Hearts
Join the Heart Foundation in South Australia for the journey of a lifetime, trekking the ancient Flinders Ranges to help save Australian hearts....
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation programs and resources to support your recovery....
Support for young adults: Online events
Support for young adults: Online events
Support for young adults: Online events
A series of virtual events for young adults on managing emotional wellbeing. ...
Lessons learned: recovering from open heart surgery
Lessons learned: recovering from open heart surgery
Lessons learned: recovering from open heart surgery
After having five open heart surgeries between the ages of 13 and 41, Peter knows a thing or two about recovery....
About the Lighthouse Hospital Project
About the Lighthouse Hospital Project
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Australia, but the burden of disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples....
What is plant-based eating
What is plant-based eating
What is plant-based eating
Learn about plant-based eating and its impact on heart health ...
Baking recipes
Baking recipes
Baking recipes
Find heart healthy baking recipes ...
Workplace giving for employees
Workplace giving for employees
Workplace giving for employees
Your employer’s workplace giving program makes it easy to setup regular, tax-deductible donations from your pre-tax income. ...
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
Information and FAQs about COVID-19 and heart disease....
Wholegrains and heart health
Wholegrains and heart health
Wholegrains and heart health
All you need to know about wholegrains to put you on the right track...
Christmas recipes
Christmas recipes
Christmas recipes
Find heart healthy festive recipes. ...
Getting active at school
Getting active at school
Getting active at school
Physical activity resources for school staff....
Cardiomyopathy; another health curveball for Ange
Cardiomyopathy; another health curveball for Ange
Cardiomyopathy; another health curveball for Ange
A story from Ange Foster ...
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Research to develop better evidence for the vascular and metabolic health benefits of vegetables and their bioactive constituents....
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Eating healthy foods can help you recover and reduce your risk of more heart problems. ...
What is FoodTrack?
What is FoodTrack?
What is FoodTrack?
FoodTrack supports the collection and monitoring of nutrition and product data for foods and beverages in Australian supermarkets. ...
WEBINAR | Research Alumni Series 2020
WEBINAR | Research Alumni Series 2020
WEBINAR | Research Alumni Series 2020
The Heart Foundation is delivering a research webinar series for Heart Foundation research alumni....
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Would you like to improve the cardiovascular health of your patients?...
10 ways to get the right balance of fats
10 ways to get the right balance of fats
10 ways to get the right balance of fats
Getting the right balance of fats in your diet can improve your heart health....
Protein and heart health
Protein and heart health
Protein and heart health
What are the best sources of protein when it come to your heart health...
How can I eat more fruit and vegetables for a healthy heart?
How can I eat more fruit and vegetables for a healthy heart?
How can I eat more fruit and vegetables for a healthy heart?
Benefits of physical activity for your heart
Benefits of physical activity for your heart
Benefits of physical activity for your heart
Physical activity and exercise can do wonders for your physical and mental health....
Our corporate partners
Our corporate partners
Our corporate partners
We value the support of all of our corporate partners....