FEATURE: ACSEP FEATURE Australians are less likely to be active It is important that as clinicians and ACSEP is the pre-eminent professional if they are over 65, female, a person practitioners, we support them and are body representing Sport and Exercise with a disability, Aboriginal or Torres able to provide equitable, accessible care Physicians in Australasia. ACSEP calls for: Strait Islander, from a culturally or to ALL members of the community. linguistically diverse background, 1. All doctors to take a physical activity from a regional area and live in low The Sports 2030 Plan describes plans history from their patients and ensure income thresholds”. Whilst a number to address a two-tiered system in sport their patients have a physical activity of initiatives are in place to address and to create a level playing field for all. or exercise prescription that meets these areas of need, “the Australian We equally and one could argue, more their specific needs Government will focus on programs importantly, need this to apply to the and initiatives that target inactive health system. 2. To assist with this, all members of Australians across their life-cycle, the community must have equitable regardless of gender, race, ability, Successful multi-sector and multi-system access through the Medicare Benefit geography or wealth”. implementation of this Sports 2030 Scheme to evidence-based sport Plan will be important. Perhaps, more and exercise clinicians and allied health Participation in sport and physical activity importantly, support of those wishing practitioners, including: comes with many benefits which far to be more active, especially those with Sport and Exercise Physicians outweigh the potential risks of injury, injury, illness and chronic disease will Sports Physiotherapists illness and rarely, death. Some may fall in be key to this plan reaching its stated Accredited Exercise Physiologists their attempts to become more active participation target of “by 2030, 15% and we must provide them with the more Australians participating in at least 3. Increased support of training for appropriate supports to get back up, get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous doctors in sport and exercise medicine, stronger and go again. That is one of activity each week.” not just through ACSEP, but across all Australia’s greatest enduring qualities. relevant specialist training programs. VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 2 2018 15 nevesralos/segamiytteg