Over the past four years, Netball WA has worked with Healthway and Fuel to Go & Play to create healthy sports events and develop a range of strategies aimed to increase the awareness and understanding of healthy eating.

At this year’s 2023 Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships, Netball WA took a leading role in providing a healthy and safe three-day event, ensuring players and spectators stayed fuelled throughout and showcased how physical activity and healthy eating go together to support our younger generation to grow into healthy adults.

More than 300 teams from across 40 associations throughout Western Australia converged on Perth over June’s long weekend with access to healthy food options such as muesli cups, sushi, salads, sandwiches and wraps as well as burgers loaded with fresh salad, many selling out on the first day.

Fuel to Go & Play made sure all food service providers attended and completed its Fuel to Go & Play – canteen managers and food service online training to help ‘green’ up their menus, all water was moved to eye level in fridges, sugary drinks and confectionery was removed from display and healthy branded stickers and menu boards were used to promote healthy food options. Free fruit was distributed over the three-day event as well as several hydration stations positioned throughout.

Healthway Health Promotion Partnerships Manager Sue-Ellen Morphett said staying hydrated, snacking on fruit, and fuelling up on healthy foods such as sandwiches, cereal or smoothies were important ingredients for all players to perform at their very best.

“I’d like to personally thank Netball WA for its exemplar event. This year’s Championships were an outstanding example of how a sporting organisation can be a true leader in raising awareness in the health and physical activity space,” she said.

“This really was a shining example of great collaborative work between all parties, and I look forward to working with Netball WA in the future.”