Women are less likely than men to reach recommended levels of physical activity and have unequal access to active leisure time. Studies in Australia have consistently found that women are only half as likely as men to be adequately active. A community-based multi-strategic health promotion intervention, 'Concord, A Great Place to be Active', was implemented from 1997 to 1999. It aimed to increase the physical activity levels of women aged 20-50 years living in the Concord Local Government Area (LGA), an inner-western region of Sydney, Australia. A key feature of this intervention was a partnership between Concord Council (the local government) and the Central Sydney Health Promotion Unit (CSHPU). The project was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted to inform the development of the intervention and to assess the impact of the project on Concord Council. Pre- and post-intervention telephone surveys of the target group were also conducted. Following the intervention, there was a statistically significant (6.4%) reduction in the proportion of sedentary women. Further, there were a number of positive enhancements in the Council's capacity to promote physical activity in the community. These findings demonstrate that a community-based intervention targeting a specific population can achieve positive changes in physical activity and that a local government has the capacity to be involved in and sustain physical activity interventions.

Background Beginning in 2017 we have conducted a 3-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) to determine the effectiveness of an early obesity intervention in the first two years of life using either telephone or Short Message Service (SMS) support for mothers. The trial recruited 1155 mothers from their third trimester of pregnancy. This protocol is for a new trial to build on the existing trial using the mother-child dyads retained at 24 months for recruitment to the new RCT. The aim of this new trial is to test whether use of a combination of telephone and SMS interventions is effective in promoting healthy eating and physical activity, as well as reducing child body mass index (BMI) at 3 years of age. Methods We will conduct a parallel RCT with an estimated sample of 750 mother-child dyads retained from the existing trial at 24 months. Mothers who completed the 24 months survey, including a telephone survey and measurement of child’s height and weight will be invited to participate in the new trial. Informed consent will be obtained at the 24 months survey. The participating mother-child dyads will then be randomly allocated to the intervention (combined telephone and text messaging intervention) or the control group. The intervention will comprise three staged telephone consultations and text messages after each of the three intervention booklets is mailed to mothers at specific time-points between two and three years of child age. The main trial outcome measures include a) BMI and BMI z-score measured at 36 months, b) diet, physical activity and screen time c) cost-effectiveness, and d) feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Discussion This unique opportunity to link two studies will expedite project start up time, utilise existing research infrastructure and systems to run the study, and optimise the use of an already engaged population of study participants. It can address a significant knowledge gap regarding early obesity prevention for children aged 2 to 3 years. The feasibility and effectiveness of the combined telephone and SMS intervention will indicate whether this is a scaleable, broad-reach and low-cost early obesity intervention. Trial registration The trial was registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry ( ACTRN12618001571268 ) on 20/09/2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7058-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Summary Background Few randomized controlled trial (RCT) interventions targeted children's early risk behaviours using telephone or short message service (SMS) support. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of telephone or SMS early intervention focusing on mothers' behaviours starting from late pregnancy to improve BMI, and eating and screen time behaviours of children aged 2 years in comparison with the control group. Methods A 3‐arm RCT was conducted in Australia, 2017–2019. Two arms involved the interventions using nurse‐led telephone or SMS support, delivered in nine stages from late pregnancy to age 2 years. The third arm was control. The primary outcome was children's objectively measured BMI and BMI z‐score at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included child eating and screen time behaviours as reported by parents at 2 years. Results At 2 years, 797 mother–child dyads (69%) completed the telephone survey with 666 (58%) completing weight and height measurements. The study found no statistically significant difference in BMI between the groups. The mean BMI for telephone support was 16.93 (95% CI: 16.73 to 17.13), for SMS 16.92 (95% CI: 16.73 to 17.11) or for control 16.95 (95% CI: 16.73 to 17.16) with a difference of −0.02 (95% CI: −0.31 to 0.27, p = 0.907) in telephone versus control, and a difference of −0.03 (95% CI: −0.30 to 0.24, p = 0.816) in SMS versus control. Telephone support was associated with higher odds of no bottle at bedtime (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.99; 95% CI: 2.01 to 4.47), family meals (AOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.26 to 3.33), drinking from a cup (AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.88), less screen time (<1 h/day) (AOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.23) and not eating dinner in front of the TV (AOR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.06). SMS support was also associated with higher odds of no bottle at bedtime (AOR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.58 to 3.33) than the control. Conclusion The telephone or SMS support intervention had no significant effects on BMI, but was effective in increasing no bottle use at bedtime. Telephone support showed more effects than SMS on reducing screen time and eating behaviours.

This exploratory study focuses on the knowledge and awareness of hepatitis C, and attitudes towards people living with hepatitis C, in the Australian-Egyptian community. Surveys were completed by 121 participants recruited in inner and suburban Sydney. Significant gaps in hepatitis C knowledge existed around transmission and treatment. A favorable attitude towards people living with hepatitis C, having heard about hepatitis C, and having had a blood test for hepatitis C, independently predicted better hepatitis C knowledge. Positive attitudes towards people with hepatitis C were found to be positively correlated with participants knowing someone with hepatitis C but negatively correlated with the amount of time spent in Australia. This study strengthens the findings of previous research that knowledge of transmission and treatment of hepatitis C among migrant communities is poor. Findings emphasize the need for further research concerning culturally appropriate hepatitis C interventions and information.

In Australia, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, largely born in low- and middle-income countries, accounted for 24% of HIV notifications in the period 2004-2008. NSW has one of the most culturally diverse communities in Australia and is also the most popular destination for both permanent and temporary migrants. Consequently people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have recently been recognised as a priority in the NSW HIV/AIDS Strategy. The National Health and Medical Research Council provides a cultural competency framework for re-orienting public health and health promotion programs to better meet the needs of these communities. It is being applied to re-orientate the HIV response in NSW. Examples of how this framework can be implemented are provided.