Healthy Active Australia Community and Schools Grants Program - Panther Bytes: Final Evaluation Report

The Panther Bytes program was designed as a support program for promoting the importance of healthy diets and regular exercises in primary school children. The program focuses on diet, nutrition and physical activity as ways to redress poor eating habits and low exercise levels by utilising modern technology and interactions with elite athletes. The program is an initiative of the Panthers on the Prowl Community Development Foundation, which began as a concept in 2000 with support from the Panthers Board of Directors and the Panthers Rugby Leagues Club. This report provides the results of an independent evaluation of the Panther Bytes program conducted by the University of Western Sydney. The evaluation is based on findings from online questionnaires designed specifically for students who participated in the program, issues identified from focus groups with students, parents of students and teachers of students who participated in the program, and information obtained by the Panther Bytes program staff. In sum, evaluation outcomes are based on data from the following sources: 2 cohorts of students who participated in the program in 2009; 499 student online questionnaire responses (173 responses at the start of the program and 326 responses at the completion of the program); 3 focus groups in 2009 with a total of 13 students, 5 parents, 4 teachers and 1 school principal; Australian Fitness Education Award (AFEA) data collected by the Panther Bytes staff; a teacher evaluation questionnaire (‘Active Lifestyles – Panther Bytes Program’) designed and administered by Panther Bytes staff.