“A well conducted training seminar - it helped set me up to deliver the message.”
“A great session. A combination of laughter and learning with fellow Rotarians.”
“Very good course – can’t wait to get started!”
“We have given a lot of thought to the meals being served at the Club, and work with the caterer on a regular basis to ensure that healthy options are available at every Club meeting.”
“The Club as a whole is interested in good health, and the welfare of all Club members and their families.”
“The WDC has created a real talking point amongst members and with weigh-ins it has now become a case of “what gets measured gets done” and hence attention to weight by our members.”
“Although I’m now regarded as the “food police” and recently at a morning tea, members tried to hide from me the fact they were having biscuits, the good thing is that they know it’s not in their best health interests to eat such items!!”
About the Program: Champion Training
Based on the success of the pilot project, the Department of Health and Ageing (Australian Government) has funded Chief Investigator Professor Samar Aoun and her team from Curtin University of Technology to further expand the project to all Rotary clubs in Western Australia, because this project supports the Australian Government focus on chronic disease self-management particularly through lifestyle and risk modification.
In particular, the Department of Health and Ageing is keen to educate the public so they are able to adopt healthier lifestyles that would reduce their risk factors to develop chronic disease and improve their sense of well-being and health outcomes. This will decrease reliance on health professionals when the health dollar is stretched.
By training club Champions in Rotary Clubs on how to implement the 'Waist' Disposal Challenge in their own clubs, this worthwhile and fun program will be able to reach more clubs than it is realistically possible for the project team to do on a limited budget.
Champions will be in an ideal situation to positively influence the health outcomes of their peers in Rotary in WA. Another good reason for joining this project is that your club will be able to retain healthy members for a longer time period.
To date 93 Rotary Champions from 52 WA Clubs have participated in the training program. By training 'Champions' in Rotary Clubs, it is anticipated that the 'Waist' Disposal Project will become community-driven and self-sustaining.
Objectives of the Expanded Project
- To offer a one-day educational program for lay-leaders or peer-educators (Champions) in Rotary clubs.
- To provide Champions with the skills required to implement the strategies of the Rotary 'Waist' Disposal Challenge as an existing Chronic Disease Self-Management intervention, and these are to deliver the 3 educational presentations to their clubs and to run the BMI competition.
Program Sessions
'Waist' Disposal Challenge - Fighting risk factors for chronic diseases
- How did we become the fattest nation in the world?
- What are we missing out on?
- How can we be in charge as a community?
Being a Champion – 'The new idea either finds a Champion or dies'
- How do you motivate your peers?
- Why do we fail to reach our goals?
- How to turn mountains into mole hills?
Running the BMI Competition in your Club
- Are you the right weight for your height?
- How do you measure BMI?
- Do your peers think that BMI stands for Be Massive Indefinitely?
Nutrition to Assist your 'Waist' Disposal – You are what you eat!
- How do you lose weight through eating?
- How do you drink fewer calories?
- How long does it take to walk off the weekend BBQ (2 sausages + 2 chops)?
Physical Activity Session – Move it, or lose it!
- How active do you need to be to push your heart rate for fitness?
- How healthy is your heart?
- Which type of exercise should you do?
Champion's Follow-up Support
- Regular teleconferences are provided to Champions after training
- Continual telephone and email support
Participating Rotary Clubs
| D9470 Rotary Clubs | D9460 Rotary Clubs | D9450 Rotary Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Armadale | Albany Port | Dalkeith |
| Ballajura-Malaga | Applecross | East Perth |
| Bentley Curtin | Attadale | Freshwater Bay |
| Byford & Districts | Booragoon | Geraldton |
| Como | Bunbury Central | Geraldton North |
| Darling Range | Collie | Geraldton-Greenough |
| Gosnells | Esperance Bay | Heirisson |
| Hannans | Fremantle | Hillarys |
| Kalamunda | Kojonup | Joondalup |
| Kalgoorlie | Kwinana | Matilda Bay |
| Mill Point | Mandurah | Morley |
| Northam | Mandurah City | Mt Lawley |
| South Perth-Burswood | Manjimup | Osborne Park |
| Victoria Park | Melville | Perth |
| Welshpool | Pinjarra | Subiaco |
| Willetton | South Bunbury | West Perth |
| Wyalkatchem | Wagin | Western Endeavour |
| Wongan Hills |