Active Families programme

Key points about the Active Families programme

  • Active Families is a free programme.
  • It is designed to help you and your children to get active and learn about healthy eating.
  • Active Family coordinators help your family to set goals and get involved in programmes with fun, physical activities that children and parents can enjoy together. You will meet other families and get healthy eating advice.
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Regular exercise helps children to maintain a healthy weight and build strong muscles and bones. It protects their hearts and can help their mental health. Active children are healthier, stronger, more confident, do better in school and sleep better.

  • One-to-one family sessions with a coordinator.
  • Weekly physical activity sessions.
  • Dietitian and nutritionist support.
  • Cooking sessions and healthy recipe ideas.

The programme is available any child who:

  • is school aged and would benefit from being more active
  • could benefit from changes to their eating habits
  • has a high BMI or a stable medical condition, and
  • has the support of whanau/family.

Your child and family can be referred to the GRx Active Families programme by your doctor, practice nurse, paediatrician, dietitian, school nurse or community health nurse.

Or you can refer your family by phoning 0800 ACTIVE (22 84 83).

Most regions have regular group activity sessions. These are held at community centres and may include:

  • information and education about health, well-being and physical activity
  • physical activity and healthy eating advice, goal setting and review
  • cooking demonstrations, label reading and supermarket tours
  • a physical activity session – this might include:
    • fitness circuits
    • modified games
    • sports
    • water-based activities.

Children work as a group on individual goals and achievements, and get to meet and have fun with other children and families who are part of the programme.

If group sessions are not available in your area, your family will still receive support through face-to-face meetings and home visits.

The GRx Active Families programmes are provided by community organisations. 

Contact details

Sport Northland(external link)

  • Jo Naera (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Northland, PO Box 1492, Whangarei, 0140
  • (09) 437 9612 (Phone)
  • 027 430 3096 (Mobile)
  • (09) 437 9639 (Fax)
  • Email: grx@sportnorth.co.nz

Sport Auckland(external link)

  • Brooke Mitchell (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Auckland, PO Box 26599, Epsom, Auckland, 1344
  • (09) 623 7924 (Phone)
  • (021) 262 1552 (Mobile)
  • (09) 623 7950 (Fax)
  • Email: grxreferral@sportauckland.co.nz

Harbour Sport(external link)

  • Eric Golding (Contact)
  • Based at Harbour Sport, PO Box 300-633, Albany, Auckland
  • (09) 415 4659 (Phone)
  • 027 700 4017 (Mobile)
  • (09) 415 4594 (Fax)
  • Email: grx@harboursport.co.nz
 

Otara Health Charitable Trust Inc(external link)

  • Maddi Schmidt (Contact)
  • Based at Otara Health Charitable Trust, PO Box 61 474, Otara, Auckland
  • (09) 274 8355 (Phone)
  • (09) 274 8344 (Fax)
  • Email: referrals@otarahealth.org.nz

Sport Gisborne(external link)

  • Libby Te Rauna (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Gisborne, PO Box 1391, Gisborne 4040
  • (06) 868 9943 ext 704 (Phone)
  • (06) 868 9954 (Fax)
  • Email: grx@sportgisborne.org.nz

 

Sport Hawkes Bay(external link)

  • Tianua Poto (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Hawke’s Bay, PO Box 7537, Taradale, Napier
  • (06) 845 9336 ext 711 (Phone)
  • 027 358 7904 (Mobile)
  • (06) 845 3983 (Fax)
  • Email: tianuap@sporthb.net.nz

IRONMAORI(external link)

  • Cecelia Mcilroy-Moa (Contact)
  • Unit 1/129 Maraekakaho Road, Hastings
  • 021 210 9517 (Mobile)
  • Email: cc@ironmaori.co.nz

Taranaki District Health Board(external link)

  • Lani Edwards - Health Development - Physical Activity Advisor Whanau Pakari TDHB (Contact)
  • Child and Adolescent Clinic (Address)
  • (06) 753 6139 ext 8525 (Phone)
  • 027 699 6579 (Mobile)
  • Email: laniedwards@tdhb.org.nz

Sport Bay of Plenty(external link)

  • Karen Stanton(Contact)
  • Based at Sport Bay of Plenty, PO Box 857, Whakatane, 3158
  • (07) 308 8304 (Phone)
  • 027 554 1428 (Mobile)
  • (07) 308 8461 (Fax)
  • Email: admin@sportbop.co.nz

Sport Bay of Plenty (Western Region)(external link)

  • Lena Kairau (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Bay of Plenty, PO Box 13355, Tauranga, 3141
  • (07) 578 0016 (Phone)
  • 027 837 7351 (Mobile)
  • (07) 571 8463 (Fax)
  • Email: admin@sportbop.co.nz

Sport Whanganui(external link)

  • Deb Byers(Contact)
  • Based at Sport Whanganui, PO Box 516, Whanganui
  • (06) 349 2325 (Phone)
  • 027 589 4440 (Mobile)
  • (06) 349 2322 (Fax)
  • Email: green@sportwhanganui.co.nz

Sport Manawatu(external link)

  • Whitney Le Comte (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Manawatu, PO Box 797, Palmerston North
  • (06) 357 5349 (Phone)
  • Email: grx@sportmanawatu.org.nz

Sport Wellington(external link)

  • Kate McCartney (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Wellington, PO Box 24148, Manners Street, Wellington, 6142
  • (04) 380 2070 (Phone)
  • 021 650 107 (Mobile)
  • (04) 801 8976 (Fax)
  • Email: grx@sportwellington.org.nz

Marlborough PHO(external link)

  • Yasmin Gee (Contact)
  • Based at Marlborough PHO, PO Box 1091, Blenheim, 7240
  • (03) 520 6263 (Phone)
  • Email: activefamilies@marlboroughpho.org.nz

Nelson Bays Primary Health(external link)

  • Contact: Bee Williamson
  • Address: Based at Nelson Bays Primary Health, PO Box 1776, Nelson 7040
  • Phone: (03) 543 7836
  • Fax: (03) 539 4958
  • Mobile: 021 409 552
  • Email: Bee.Williamson@nbph.org.nz 

Sport Canterbury(external link)

  • Steve Gettings (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Canterbury, PO Box 2606, CHRISTCHURCH
  • 027 461 3634 (Mobile)
  • 03 387 0284 (Fax)
  • Email: grxsupport@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Sport Otago(external link)

  • Mike Culling (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Otago, PO Box 969, DUNEDIN
  • (03) 474 6350 (Phone)
  • (03) 474 6368 (Fax)
  • (027) 403 1527 (Mobile)
  • Email: activefamilies@sportotago.co.nz

Sport Southland(external link)

  • Adele Orangi (Contact)
  • Based at Sport Southland, PO Box 224, INVERCARGILL
  • (03) 211 2150 (Phone)
  • (03) 211 2250 (Fax)
  • (027) 405 6003 (Mobile)
  • Email: grx@sportsouthland.co.nz

GRx means a green prescription. A green prescription is your health professional’s written advice to you to encourage you to become more physically active.

Findings from a survey of the Active Families programme released in April 2019 confirm: 

Main survey points are:

  • 85 percent of participants are more active since receiving their GRx
  • 90 percent of families have made changes to their diets, mainly less sugary food and drink, eating fewer takeaways, more fruit and vegetables
  • 99 percent are now more aware of and understand the benefits of physical activity
  • 89 percent of participants have noticed health changes including: willingness to try new activities, more energy and confidence, weight loss and less medication.
  • Satisfaction with the service (activity and nutrition sessions and home visits) is very high at 98 percent.

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Credits: Healthify Editorial Team

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