AHA was engaged to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of resources developed as part of the Commonwealth Government's Plan for Early Childhood and the Plan for Tackling Obesity. These resources were specifically designed to promote and support healthy eating and physical activity in children attending Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services such as centre based care, Family Day Care and Preschools.

AHA consulted a range of stakeholders across the sector. Surveys, interviews, targeted focus groups and consultations were undertaken to gather input from large numbers of stakeholders, specifically National ECEC service Directors, Coordinators and Educators, samples of participant ECEC staff, Peak Body representatives and ECEC parents and carers.

Effectiveness and appropriateness was established through identifying gaps and barriers, the alignment of objectives to other state and national initiatives and through identifying how the resources could be improved.

The Final Report’s findings were derived from the data gathered during these consultations as well as through a review of key documents and a literature review of relevant, peer-reviewed publications.

Details of the ‘Get Up & Grow – Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood’ resources are available at the Department’s website.