About the program
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program?
- What were the key factors that prompted the development of the AASC program?
- Who can be involved in the AASC program?
- What are the objectives of the AASC program?
- What is the emphasis of the AASC program?
- What is structured physical activity?
- What is Playing for Life?
- Will there be a cost to families for their children to be involved in the AASC program?
- What are the requireents for delivery of the program within the schools/OSHCS?
- Who will deliver the program?
Q. What is the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program?
A. The Active After-school Communities (AASC) program is a national program that provides Australian primary school aged children with access to free, structured physical activity programs in the after school timeslot of 3.00pm to 5.30pm. The AASC is designed to engage traditionally inactive children in structured physical activities and build links with community based organisations to create opportunities for ongoing participation.
Q. What were the key factors that prompted the development of the AASC program?
A.
- children are less active (more sedentary) and hence less healthy
- societal changes that have impacted on the ability of families to support extra-curricular activities
- the decline in daily physical education in Australian schools due to crowded curricula.
Q. Who can be involved in the AASC Program?
A. The AASC program is open to Australian primary schools and Childcare benefit (CCB) approved out of school hour care services (OSHCS).
Approved long day care and family day care services may also apply, subject to meeting the following requirements:
- the children participating in the program are primary school-aged children only
- the program delivered is offered in the after-school timeslot
- the site has access to suitable facilities to conduct the proposed program.
Q. What are the objectives of the AASC program?
A.
- To enhance the physical activity of Australian primary school aged children through a nationally coordinated program.
- Provide increased opportunities for inclusive participation in quality, safe and fun structured physical activities.
- To encourage local community involvement in sport and structured physical activity.
Q. What is the emphasis of the AASC program?
A.
- To encourage local community partnerships
- To promote a local community approach to increase participation in structured physical activity
- To provide schools and OSHCS with support to determine programs that meet the needs of their community
- To focus on mobility skills and motor skill development
- To structure the program on Playing for Life principles and resources
Q. What is structured physical activity?
A. In relation to the AASC program, structured physical activity consists of modified sporting games and
other energetic activities that are organised and managed by AASC registered deliverers.
Q. What is Playing for Life?
A. Playing for Life is an approach to coaching that uses games as the focus of development. By concentrating on game-based activities children are able to:
- develop skills within a realistic and enjoyable context, rather than practising them in isolation and from a technical perspective
- engage in dynamic game-based activities that use a fun approach to developing a range of motor skills.
Q. Will there be a cost to families for their children to be involved in the AASC program?
A. The AASC program is a free service, as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving the health and well being of Australia’s children. Where children are enrolled within an OSHCS service, the program will not incur any additional costs above the cost of the child care.
Q. What are the requirements for delivery of the program within schools/OSHCS?
A. Australian primary schools and CCB-approved out of school hours care services involved within the AASC program must meet the following requirements:
- The AASC program must be offered as a free service, as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Australian children. Where children are enrolled in an OSHCS, participating children and their families must not incur any additional costs above the cost of the child care.
- Engage traditionally non-active children.
- Provide inclusive activities for children of all abilities.
- Provide a free nutritious afternoon tea for all participating children each session, aligned to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (See link below)
- Engage all children enrolled in the program for the full 60 minutes of each session.
- Nominate a coordinator for the program to liaise with the AASC regional coordinator and manage all aspects of the program including student participation, planning, grant applications/acquittals and other administration requirements.
- Ensure active supervision is provided during all AASC sessions.
- Provide and maintain relevant staff to student ratio for the full session.
- Participate within the AASC research and evaluation program as required.
- Satisfactorily complete the required administrative processes
- Utilise AASC funding, in accordance with the terms and conditions, for the delivery of activities within the funding period it was allocated (this includes the purchase of any equipment.)
The program must also operate within the following parameters:
- Operate within the after-school timeslot.
- Provide access to appropriate facilities for both wet and dry weather conditions.
- Provide a minimum of 60 minutes of structured physical activity
- Minimum of 15 participants per session
- Run 2-3 sessions per week
- Run the program for a minimum of 7 weeks per term (9 weeks per term in Tasmania)
- Ensure at least 1 current site supervisor, coordinator or staff member is trained in the AASC Community Coach Training Program (ideally the supervisor/coordinator) within any funding period.
Q. Who will deliver the program?
A. Deliverers must be registered with the Australian Sports Commission to be able to deliver programs in schools/OSHCS. Anyone may apply for registration — school teachers, OSHCS staff, development officers from national and state sporting organisations, local club personnel, local government staff, parents, private providers, senior secondary or tertiary students etc.
