Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to add to an answer I gave to Senator Fielding concerning the Active After-school Communities Program. I can give him some particulars: firstly, I should say that the program is free as an after-school structured physical activity and sports program and is offered during the 3 pm to 5 pm slot. It provides a range of physical activities designed to improve motor skills development, which includes but is not limited to sport.

The pilot program began with 22 schools out of school hour care services across the country, including Spreyton Primary School in Tasmania, Spencer Park Primary School in Western Australian and Katherine Primary School in the Northern Territory. Support and demand for this program have been overwhelming, with 1,583 schools participating in the program in term 1. All up, an additional 1,169 schools are joining in the program in 2006, and the government aims to involve around 3,000 primary schools and child-care benefit approved centres with the program by term 3, 2007. The government will continue to monitor the demand with a view to deciding how and whether to extend the program.