iPad exercise tackles childhood obesity

TRANSFORMING screen time from a sedentary activity into an active lifestyle tool has been a master stroke for Sunshine Coast entrepreneur Kym Hunter.

Westpac native campaign

TRANSFORMING screen time from a sedentary activity into an active lifestyle tool has been a master stroke for Sunshine Coast entrepreneur Kym Hunter.

Founder of Champion Life, Ms Hunter has created an online resource for schools to promote active and healthy lifestyles. The tool is based on physical challenges, from yoga to burpees and juggling, and healthy lifestyle skills such as preparing a wholesome snack. After viewing a demonstration by Champion Life’s diverse real life role models, students are encouraged to film their own attempt at the challenge.  

“We know that kids are on their devices and we know they love them, so I thought about how we could use it for good,” says Ms Hunter, a sports scientist who formerly worked with athletes at the Australian Institute of Sport. “The role models also share tips about resilience, persistence and good habits. Hearing it from them, through their devices, has a million times more traction than when mum or dad says it.”

As a mother of four, Ms Hunter is driven by her concern about obesity and inactivity among young people. Her program targets the middle years of school and was developed in consultation with classroom teachers and experts on fitness, health and wellbeing.

There are now over 1000 Australian children using Champion Life, with several Western Australian schools involved in a trial rollout. What started as a side project in 2013 has become Ms Hunter’s fulltime focus. She hopes to see the program introduced in schools across Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas where resources for physical activity and health education can be scarce. “Some teachers use it as a reward in between lessons, others will incorporate it into their PE program or will get children to do it at home,” she says.

Champion Life is one of 200 Australian movers and shakers involved in last year’s inaugural Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow program. The initiative seeks to recognise and reward businesses with the drive to shape Australia’s future, providing opportunities to network with likeminded people and learn from business leaders. “I was overjoyed to get one of the spots,” Ms Hunter says. “Building your own business can be isolating and overwhelming, but this has helped me to meet so many amazing people, with potential for future collaborations.”

Westpac launched the Businesses of Tomorrow program as part of its bicentennial celebrations last year, recently launching the 2018 program with applications open until 8 April.

“We saw some really impressive businesses as part of our 2017 program across many industries like healthcare, retail, publishing, technology, education and manufacturing,” said Ganesh Chandrasekkar, General Manager of Westpac SME Banking. “A Business of Tomorrow can be large or small, working in any industry across metropolitan or regional Australia, and doesn’t need to be a Westpac customer.”

This year, a panel of independent experts from Deloitte and Westpac will select the top 200 businesses who will receive a three-day Melbourne Business School program and access to the Businesses of Tomorrow network among other money can’t buy experiences.

A prestigious panel including Tim Fung, CEO and co-founder of Airtasker and Westpac director Alison Deans will then select the top 20 businesses who will win a two-week study tour to the US, one-on-one mentoring, a professional services package worth $50,000 and further media recognition.

The mentors include business leaders such as former Westpac CEO Gail Kelly, McDonald’s Australia CEO Andrew Gregory, Mecca cosmetics founder and CEO Jo Horgan and Airtasker CEO and Co-founder Tim Fung.

To apply go to https://businessesoftomorrow.com.au/

Originally published as iPad exercise tackles childhood obesity