Uni teams lauded internationally
26 July 2021
Two University of Newcastle teams have been highly commended in the 2021 International Green Gown Awards, recognised for their meaningful community impact and dedication to creating opportunities for young women.
Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered is a lifestyle program targeting fathers to be the agents of change in their daughter’s lives. Photo supplied: Philip Morgan.
The International Green Gown Awards are supported by the United Nations Environment programme and acknowledge exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by different universities worldwide.
Daughters and dads Active and Empowered, created by Professor Philip Morgan and his team at the University’s Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, was recognised in the Benefitting Society category.
Morgan said the world-first lifestyle program targeted fathers and father figures to be the agents of change and help improve their daughters’ physical and social-emotional wellbeing.
The program also engages girls to improve their fathers’ fitness and physical activity levels and parenting skills.
“It was developed initially to address several issues that girls face regarding their physical activity levels, their proficiency in performing fundamental movement skills and their social and emotional wellbeing,” Morgan said.
Photo supplied: Philip Morgan.
“Eighty-five per cent of girls don’t meet physical activity recommendations, and less than 10 per cent can perform those skills before they leave primary school, so it was integral that we created a program to address this.
“To be given a highly commended award when competing against every university across the world is absolutely amazing. This is a homegrown program from Newcastle on the international stage, and to even be considered as a finalist, we are just so thrilled.”
Morgan said they had so many more exciting projects to take on, and the accolade is helping open the program up to further opportunities.
“Any accolade and achievement speaks to the quality of the program and its impact,” he said.
“So, this will give us more opportunity when we are recruiting or partnering with other organisations. They will see the esteem that this program and initiative truly holds.”
