Today is a great day for sport, and a great day for women’s sport.
The Women’s Final at the Australian Open will see two of the world’s best athletes – the Williams sisters – go head to head in what is set to be an incredible match.
To see these elite athletes performing at the pinnacle of their game is an inspiration to us all.
They inspire us to get involved – for fitness, for fun, for confidence, for physical and mental health and well-being.
As Minister for Health and Minister for Sport, one of my top priorities is boosting sports participation across all ages.
That’s why today at the Australian Open, I am delighted to get behind ‘Girls Make Your Move’.
Girls Make Your Move is about Australia’s young women getting out there and giving it everything you’ve got, being active, being fit and staying healthy.
The Turnbull Government launched Girls Make Your Move last year. The next round of the health drive will begin next month with a $7 million national advertising campaign.
Lack of physical activity is one of the major causes of preventable disease. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, obesity and injury.
And it has significant benefits for mental health. It helps manage stress, alleviate depression and anxiety, strengthen self-esteem, enhance mood and boost mental alertness.
Currently only one in 10 young Australians move enough and Australian girls in particular do less physical activity as they move through their teens.
Research shows that girls face additional barriers to men – they don’t want to be judged or ridiculed and they can be self-conscious about how they look when exercising.
Girls Make Your Move wants to push past those barriers. It’s about inspiring, energising and empowering young women to be more active in whatever way suits them.
Tennis is a great way to get active – whether it’s joining a local club or getting friends together for a casual hit.
What matters is getting out there – getting moving and getting the heart pumping.
For more information visit www.australia.gov.au/girlsmove
(ENDS)