New funding to help Barwon Valley School purchase wearable technology to help kids stay active

Students at a Belmont specialist school will benefit from new wearable technology to encourage them to stay active.

Barwon Valley School student Nick English, TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter and Barwon Valley School physiotherapist Marian O’Gorman.

Students at a Belmont specialist school will benefit from new wearable technology to encourage them to stay active.

Barwon Valley School will receive $45,000 in funding to purchase new wearable exercise trackers and tablets for seniors students, aged 12 to 18.

The new technology is hoped to encourage students to increase their daily exercise.

The wearable tracker and the tablet connect to each other and record the students’ physical activity.

Other schools in Victoria have found the wearable devices motivate children to stay active as they can set individual goals and compete with their peers.

The students will also be able to access a variety of training programs and instructional videos on their new tablets to lead themselves through exercise sessions.

The data collected by the wearable technology will be sent to Monash University and analysed by occupational therapy students to determine if the children were more active when wearing the devices.

The funding, in partnership with the state government, is part of the Transport Accident Commission’s Small Grants Program.

The program offers grants of up to $50,000 to support innovative projects which improve the life and independence of those living with life-altering injuries, including blindness, amputations and brain and spinal cord injuries.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said all students deserved to be included in physical activity, regardless of their needs and abilities.

“This grant will make a big difference for students at Barwon Valley School,” he said.

TAC minister Danny Pearson said: “This grant will ensure all students at Barwon Valley School have access to the equipment they need to maintain and advance their health and wellbeing.”

Other recipients of the Small Grants Program include Care Companions, a singing group for Chinese people with a disability, and EnAccess Maps, an online platform which helps those with a mobility aid find accessible events and locations.

Originally published as New funding to help Barwon Valley School purchase wearable technology to help kids stay active