The NSW Doctor Spring 2024 - Students as LifeStyle Activists

Celebrating20Yearsofthe StudentsAsLifeStyle ActivistsProgram

ProfessorSmitaShahOAM,CatrionaLockett,KymRizzoLiu,DrKean-SengLimandChristineCawseyAM

2024marksthe20thanniversaryof theaward-winningStudentsas LifeStyleActivists(SALSA)program, apioneeringinitiativeinWestern Sydney.

Theprogram'ssuccessunderscores itseffectiveapproachtofostering healthiercommunitiesthrough collaborationswithschools, healthcareprovidersand universities.

TheSALSAprogramwaslaunched in2004bytheMtDruittMedical PractitionersAssociation(MDMPA)in responsetoescalatingchildhood obesityratesinwesternSydney Recognisingthechallengeof reachingadolescentswhoseldom visitedGPpractices,theMDMPA, alongwithRootyHillHighSchooland thePreventionEducationand ResearchUnit(PERU),developeda school-basedpreventative intervention.Thisprogram,basedon SocialCognitiveTheoryand EmpowermentEducation,involves Year10studentsteachingYear8

studentsabouthealthylifestyles, therebypositioningthemasrole modelsandmotivators

“Challengedbytheconfronting statisticsaboutadultobesityand poordietinAustralia,initiativesthat worktochangetheattitudes,eating behaviours,andexercisehabitsof secondarystudentsarerare

SALSAisonesuchinitiative,”saidDr Kean-SengLim,Presidentof MDMPA

In2014,SALSAwashonouredwith multipleawards,includingthe CommunityChoiceAwardandthe PartnershipAwardfromthe WesternSydneyLocalHealth District Tomaintainitsrelevance andeffectiveness,theprogramhas evolved,incorporatinguniversity studentsasSALSAeducatorswho trainYear10peerleaders The introductionofSALSAYouthVoices (SYV)in2017furtherextendedthe program’simpact SYVempowers Year10leaderstocreateand implement‘SchoolActionPlans,’ leadingtoinitiativessuchas redesignedsportsuniformsand waterrefillstations(2) SALSA’s effectivenesshasbeenvalidated throughextensiveevaluations supportedbytheFederalHealth Department

Partnership between local GPs, AMA (NSW) and SALSA, Rooty Hill High School 2016

Erskine Park High School SALSA Peer Leaders, Westmead Hospital 2019

Theprogramhaspositively influenceddietaryandphysical activitybehavioursinYear10and Year8studentsacross23high schools Itisalsorecognizedforits cost-effectiveness,withanexpense oflessthan$10perstudent(3,4).

Sinceitsinception,SALSAhas trainedover550universitystudents andengagedmorethan26,000high schoolstudentsfromover40 schools Theprogram’ssuccesshas ledtointernationaltrialsintheMiddle East,China,andVietnam,andithas beenrecognizedbyUNICEFasa modelforadolescentandyouth programsintheMiddleEastand Africa(5,6,7)

TheSALSAprogramfocusesonthe richestresourceofourcommunitystudentsthemselves Ithasprovento beasustainableandimpactful initiativeinpromotingimprovingdiet andincreasingphysicalactivityin highschoolstudents Wewouldlike tothankthestudentsandstafffrom theSALSAschoolsfortheir participationandsupport Wealso acknowledgethefinancialsupport wereceivefromWentWest,Western SydneyPrimaryHealthNetworkand fromDanielMcAlary

SALSA

“Challengedbytheconfrontingstatisticsaboutadultobesityandpoor dietinAustralia,initiativesthatworktochangetheattitudes,eating behaviours,andexercisehabitsofsecondarystudentsarerare.SALSA isonesuchinitiative,”

DrKean-SengLim,PresidentofMDMPA

ScantheQR codetoread thereferences.

Oxley and Gunnedah SALSA Peer Leaders and University Educators; 2023

Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) receiving the Quality Award in 2014