Hearty contest for creative health solutions

Media release: February 25th, 2024

Invitations open for $50,000 Active Australia Innovation Challenge grants

The Heart Foundation is reminding people from across Australia to submit their most innovative ideas for the 2024 Active Australia Innovation Challenge. Already live, the national challenge is seeking creative ideas to encourage and support physical activity for heart health across all Australian communities. Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for heart disease, Australia’s biggest killer. The Active Australia Innovation Challenge aims to uncover and support innovative solutions that can break down barriers to physical activity and create more opportunities for Australians to move their way to better heart health. The Heart Foundation’s Manager for Heart Health, Kym Lang, said communities were best placed to lead on local solutions and that winning entries would be supported with grants of up to $50,000.

“We are seeking bright ideas to get more people moving that can be implemented in communities, schools, workplaces, or healthcare settings,” Ms Lang said.

“The solutions can be in the form of technology, programs, or any initiative that can demonstrably increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in the Australian population.”

Eligibility

The Active Australia Innovation Challenge is open to individuals, schools, community groups, organisations, and businesses across Australia. The Heart Foundation is especially interested in ideas supporting people most at risk of cardiovascular disease and increasing the participation of diverse groups and priority populations in physical activity, including Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people living with a disability and people living in rural and remote regions.

Winners will receive: A grant to help bring their idea to life, along with ongoing support from the Heart Foundation and opportunities to network with key stakeholders in the field of heart health.

Submission Guidelines

Entries must include a detailed description of the idea, its potential impact on increasing physical activity and a proposed budget. Applications are open 9am AEST Monday 5th Februrary 2024 and close at 11:59pm AEST Friday 1 March 2024.  No late applications will be accepted.

For more details on the challenge and how to enter visit: campaigns.heartfoundation.org.au/aaic/