FAQs

The program is suitable for children who:

• Live in NSW
• Are 7 to 13 years old
• Are ‘above a healthy weight’, and
• Have a parent or carer (such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling) that can attend each session.

Children need to grow, but they are healthiest if they stay within a certain weight range as they grow. This is called a healthy weight for their age.

‘Above a healthy weight’ means a child is above a healthy weight for their height and age. A lot can be done to help develop healthier eating habits, and keep them active and well.

Children above a healthy weight may develop health problems in childhood, such as asthma; sleep problems; hip, knee and ankle problems; and high cholesterol or blood pressure. They are also much more likely to become overweight adults, putting them at risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Children’s growth can change over time, so it’s important to check your child’s height and weight every three months.

To find out a child’s weight status, you can:

• Use our calculator here
• Call us on 1800 780 900
• Check with your child’s doctor.

It is important to measure your child’s height and weight. This will determine if the program is right for your family. If possible, follow the steps below or contact a health professional to take your child’s measurements.

Measuring a child’s weight:

1. Place scales on hard surface (such as tile or wood) and avoid placing on carpet. If possible, use a digital scale.
2. Remove shoes and heavy clothing (like a jacket or thick jumper).
3. Have the child stand with both feet in the centre of the scale.
4. Record the weight to the nearest 0.1 kg (or ½ kilogram if not using digital scales).
5. You only need to measure weight every 3 months

TIP: If possible, weigh the child first thing in the morning before breakfast. If you intend to repeat the measurement in future, try to repeat it at the same time of day. Remember weight can vary across the day.

Measuring a child’s height:

1.  Take the height measurement on hard flooring (i.e. without carpet) and against a flat wall.
2. Remove shoes and socks, bulky clothing and hair accessories.
3. Have the child stand straight with back against the wall. Make sure feet are flat, heels are touching the wall and eyes are facing straight ahead.
4. Place a pencil/book horizontally on the top of the head.
5. Draw a small mark where the pencil meets the wall (don’t forget to wipe it off when you are finished).
6. Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the pencil mark on the wall to the floor.
7. Record the measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimetre.

Measuring a child’s weight:

1. Place scales on hard surface (such as tile or wood) and avoid placing on carpet. If possible, use a digital scale.
2. Remove shoes and heavy clothing (like a jacket or thick jumper).
3. Have the child stand with both feet in the centre of the scale.
4. Record the weight to the nearest 0.1 kg (or ½ kilogram if not using digital scales).
5. You only need to measure weight every 3 months

TIP: If possible, weigh the child first thing in the morning before breakfast. If you intend to repeat the measurement in future, try to repeat it at the same time of day. Remember weight can vary across the day.

1.  Take the height measurement on hard flooring (i.e. without carpet) and against a flat wall.
2. Remove shoes and socks, bulky clothing and hair accessories.
3. Have the child stand straight with back against the wall. Make sure feet are flat, heels are touching the wall and eyes are facing straight ahead.
4. Place a pencil/book horizontally on the top of the head.
5. Draw a small mark where the pencil meets the wall (don’t forget to wipe it off when you are finished).
6. Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the pencil mark on the wall to the floor.
7. Record the measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimetre.

A carer, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling can attend the program with a child in place of a parent.

If there is no adult available, you can place your child on a waitlist until your circumstances change and an adult is able to attend. Alternatively, Go4Fun Online may be an option for your family.

Our program is designed for children above a healthy weight. We understand that some families need to bring other siblings to Go4Fun® programs and the program is designed for the whole family. The decision is at the discretion of your local Go4Fun® team and usually depends on the size of the group and venue, as well as the age of the child. Please ask your local team about bringing siblings when they first contact you.

A referral isn’t necessary if your child is above a healthy weight. Simply apply using our online registration form here, call 1800 780 900 or, if you prefer, send a text message to 0409 745 645 and we’ll call you back.

You can also be referred from a health professional, but a referral is not required.

If there are medical conditions that might affect your child’s ability to safely take part in Go4Fun®, please check with your child’s GP. You’ll also need to complete a medical questionnaire at the start of the program and tell us about your child’s medical conditions. Each child is assessed on an individual basis about whether they can participate in Go4Fun.

Our Go4Fun® centralised referral service will call to confirm your registration and give you details of programs in your area. You’ll be booked onto a local program that’s convenient for you. Your local Go4Fun® team will then contact you to provide all the extra information you need to get started.

Yes. The program is free for eligible NSW families and is funded by the NSW Ministry of Health under the NSW Healthy Children Initiative.

The program runs for 10 weeks in the school term. Children attend once a week for two hours, after school. Please click here for find a program near you for more information.

No, the program runs in line with school terms.

Our typical venues include school halls, council facilities, community halls and local recreation facilities like parks. All program sessions are usually at the same venue, except for a supermarket tour.

We run Go4Fun® programs across NSW and the locations and suburbs are based on availability and demand. If there doesn’t appear to be a program in your local area, you should still register and let us know your location. If there’s enough interest, a program may be organised for your local area. Click here to find a program near you.

Go4Fun Online® is also available to families who are eligible but have no local program nearby.

No, everything in the program is free.

No. Go4Fun® is not a diet; it’s a fun healthy lifestyle program that encourages children and their families to become fitter, healthier and happier.

At the start of the program, your child will be given a Go4Fun welcome pack, including a Go4Fun® shirt. Each session has a similar format:

• In the first hour of our weekly program we talk about healthy eating with children and their parents/carers
• Children and their parents/carers split up in the second hour. The second hour focuses on fun physical activities and games designed to spark your child’s interest in staying active. Some programs may involve pool-based exercises and games
• During hour two, while children enjoy physical activities, parents or carers get together and discuss relevant health-related topics with the theory leader and other parents and carers.

Programs are delivered by trained health and community professionals, such as dietitians and exercise physiologists.

Independent clinical studies show that Go4Fun helps children raise their self-esteem, reach a healthier weight, improve fitness and increase the time they spend being active. The program is adapted to meet all current Australian guidelines and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommendations for the management of weight and obesity in children.

There are lots of benefits of our program for children, including:

• Improved self-esteem and confidence
• Improved sporting skills and fitness
• Improved team work and communication
• Improved diet that means better concentration, moods and behaviour
• Better overall health
• A decrease in BMI and waist circumference.

At the end of the program, your group will take part in graduation ceremony to celebrate everyone’s achievements. You’ll also get a report detailing the changes to your child’s health since they joined Go4Fun®.

Parents and carers are provided with information on community clubs and programs available in their local areas, and you’re encouraged to check them out when your child’s Go4Fun® sessions finish.

Families receive a quarterly newsletter for 12 months after the program, and you’ll also have access to The Active 8 website. These are designed to support and inspire your family to continue to make healthy choices.

The program is designed with a whole of family approach, which is why a parent or carer needs to attend each session. Parents and carers are often role models for their children and have a big influence over their lifestyle. Their role is so important that there are even some sessions in the program which are just targeted towards the adults. Making changes as a whole family also makes it easier to continue to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Both programs run for 10 weeks, in the local community. However, Aboriginal Go4Fun® has been tailored specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This means that while the key messages of the program are still the same, some of the information has been changed to be more specific to the Aboriginal culture. Families who do not identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander are still welcome to attend Aboriginal Go4Fun®.

Both programs run for 10 weeks and are designed for children aged 7-13 who are above a healthy weight and their families. However, standard Go4Fun® is delivered face-to-face in local venues, while Go4Fun Online® is delivered online and through phone coaching.

More information on Go4Fun Online is available here.

Families are only able to complete one version of the program. If you are taking part in one of the face-to-face versions of Go4Fun®, you do not need to sign up to Go4Fun Online®.

https://go4fun.com.au/health-professionals/