Sport and Recreation Spatial a finalist in the 2015 VicHealth Awards
5 November 2015
Sport and Recreation Spatial, a joint research initiative between Federation University and Victoria University has been nominated as a finalist in the ‘Research into Action’ category of the 2015 VicHealth Awards.
The VicHealth awards recognise the significant health promotion achievements of projects that support and promote healthier, happier Victorian communities.
Sport and Recreation Spatial was established with the aim of investigating sport and recreation participation and facilities and their relationships with health. This has been achieved through the collection, integration and interrogation of State-wide data about sport and recreation participation, sport and recreation facilities, population demographics and population health from multiple data custodians. Project partners include VicHealth, the Australian Sports Commission, Sport and Recreation Victoria, VicSport, seven leading state sporting associations (Australian rules football, cricket, tennis, netball, hockey, basketball, lawn bowls) and the Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy - Australian Health Policy Collaboration.
Sport and Recreation Spatial provides a strong evidence base and an increased capacity for research, strategic planning, and development of participation programs and facilities. This is achieved through a national geographic information system for presenting spatial data relevant to all levels of the sport and recreation industry and an associated research program which can address questions of national and international significance.
Associate Professor Rochelle Eime, joint researcher at Federation University and Victoria University, has led this project with support from Dr Jack Harvey (Federation University) and Ms Melanie Charity (Federation University/Victoria University). Federation University’s Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) developed the spatial ICT system and website, tailored specifically by senior programmer Mr Paul Feely, together with Dr Helen Thompson.
In commenting on the VicHealth awards nomination, Associate Prof Eime stated that the project team were delighted to have been named as finalists and to receive peer recognition for the advances being made with the sport and recreation industry in Victoria. She also commented that the nomination “provided an opportunity to showcase how evidence-based decisions can be supported with access to extensive, reliable data - and associated capacity for analysis – ultimately leading to increased sport and recreation participation benefitting the whole community”.
The winners of the 2015 VicHealth awards will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by VicHealth at the National Gallery of Victoria on 1 December.
For further information about Sport and Recreation Spatial contact Director, Associate Professor Rochelle Eime at: r.eime@federation.edu.au; Telephone: (03) 5327 9687.