The Gillard Government today announced $43.5 million to continue the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program for 2011.

Minister for Sport Mark Arbib said AASC was a national initiative that provides primary school children with access to free sport and physical activity programs after-school.

'Active After-schools aims to engage traditionally inactive children in sport and other structured physical activities and through a positive and fun experience to help them develop a love of sport that may inspire them to join a local sporting club,' Senator Arbib said.

'The program is run in more than 3,200 primary schools and out of school hour care services to about 150,000 children.

'Regional coordinators deliver the program in primary schools and care services using local sporting clubs, volunteers, private providers, teachers, retirees, senior secondary and tertiary students, and parents, brothers or sisters.'

Senator Arbib said the program targeted previously inactive children and had proven to be very successful in increasing participation in sport.

'Independent assessment of the program found that before starting the program participants did less than three hours of structured physical activity each week,' Senator Arbib said.

'We know that introducing children to physical activity at a young age can have significant implications for future health costs by preventing children from requiring treatment for obesity.

'And by introducing children to sport at a young age we can establish a life-long enjoyment of physical activity.

'Active After-schools is delivered across the country, with almost half the sites in rural and regional communities and a quarter in low socio economic communities.

'About 14 per cent of the program sites cater for Indigenous communities and 14 per cent cater for children with special needs.'

The Australian Sports Commission manages the AASC program nationally through a network of locally based regional coordinators.

The coordinators assist schools and after-school care centres to facilitate the program, recruit/train community coaches and work with local sporting clubs and organisations to increase junior membership.