A popular evidence-based exercise program for children with movement challenges is gearing up for its 45th year of helping kids come to grips with basic skills others take for granted.
Unigym, which provides tailored coaching to children who struggle with physical activity due to motor learning difficulties, has helped thousands of children since starting at The University of Western Australia in 1981.
Originally developed for children with conditions including Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), global development delay, cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD and Down syndrome, the not-for-profit program now caters for any child who has difficulty participating in physical activity.
The semester-long program matches participants with third-year undergraduate students undertaking practical placement as part of their Sport and Exercise Science degree and involves weekly one-on-one sessions built around individualised plans.
Program director, Associate Professor Siobhan Reid from the School of Human Sciences, said the arrangement provided two-way value – giving essential, supervised teaching experience to students on the cusp of their professional careers, and building confidence and skills in participating children and teens.
“Only 25 per cent of Australian children meet recommended guidelines for daily physical activity – and that figure is even lower for children with barriers including movement, economic or psychosocial challenges,” Associate Professor Reid said.
“This program gives these vulnerable children the chance to overcome those barriers and develop movement skills in a safe and supportive environment.
“The impacts go beyond movement skills, though, with families often reporting a reduction in anxiety around movement and a dramatic increase in their child’s confidence and self-esteem.”
Unigym, which supports children aged five-to-eight years, was joined in 2012 by similar program iFit, where Masters students work one-on-one with children aged nine-to-15 years to help them transition into a specific sport or activity of interest.
Both programs, which often have waitlists, currently have openings due to a change in course structure and a higher-than-expected influx of students.
“We would love to match our students up with children who might benefit from these programs,” Associate Professor Reid said.
“These are students with futures in a whole range of vocations including exercise physiology, PE teaching and coaching in high-performance or recreational sports, and this program is an essential part of their training and accreditation.
“It gives them valuable experience across disciplines including functional movement assessment and clinical reporting, but for many it’s also the first time they’ve been able to see the impact on their clients in real-time and understand that they can make a difference using their particular skill set.
“Just as importantly, they really enjoy the unit – it provides education with empathy and helps them become more compassionate professionals.”
This year’s Unigym and iFit programs start on Tuesday 3 March. For more information, including on course structure, fees and how to enrol, head to UWA Paediatric Exercise Programs.