Women and girls who may be lacking the motivation to improve their health and fitness now have an ideal opportunity to turn this around.

Treasurer and Minister for Sport, Curtis Pitt, has launched the Queensland Government’s new Join the Movement campaign urging women and girls across the state to become active and healthier for life.

Mr Pitt said Join the Movement, part of the government’s sports encouragement Start Playing Stay Playing initiative, would use popular social media channels as well as a dedicated website to inspire more women and girls to get active.

“The aim is to motivate Queensland women and girls to try and overcome the barriers of everyday life to get active and improve their health and wellbeing,” he said.

“Surveys suggest more than 40 per cent of adult women in Queensland are not undertaking enough physical activity to gain the associated health benefits.

“Many men should also be more active, but historically men’s sports have received more exposure which has encouraged participation.

“While women’s sport across many codes has been growing in prominence and should continue to do so, there are barriers facing women and girls such as time constraints due to competing priorities, suitability of facilities and programs, and their own levels of self-confidence.

”Mr Pitt said the government was passionate about increasing the participation of women and girls in sport and active recreation.

“We want all Queenslanders to have the opportunity and the drive to get active for a healthy life – whoever they are, whatever their ability and wherever they live,” Mr Pitt said.

“Backed by an original song created by local artist MKO Sun, this campaign was made by Queensland women, featuring real Queensland women for Queensland women,” he said. 

• Connect with the Start Playing Stay Playing community by liking it on Facebook, following on Instagram, or through #JoinTheMovement or ‘#IMoveBecause.
  
  
• For more information on Start Playing Stay Playing visit: www.qld.gov.au/spsp
  
  
• To visit the Join the Movement campaign site, visit: www.jointhemovement.qld.gov.au