In 2019, the Out of Home industry donated advertising space valued at $87 million to over 230 community groups and charities.
About Outdoor advertising
The role of Out of Home (OOH) advertising keeps growing as OOH audience growth continues to outstrip population growth. Since 2010, OOH audiences have grown 23 per cent, while population has grown by 14.9 per cent.
Advertising and marketing play a fundamental role in the Australian economy and are significant drivers of economic growth, contributing some $40 billion of value in 2014. This means advertising is responsible for contributing approximately 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
For every person directly employed by advertising, another three people are reliant upon advertising for their jobs. In aggregate, advertising is associated with the employment of over 200,000 people in the Australian economy – including direct employment in the advertising sector and indirect employment as part of the supply chain.
Obesity in Australia
Unhealthy diets and obesity are the leading contributor to poor health in Australia. With almost one in four Australian children overweight or obese, Australia needs comprehensive policy action to address healthy diets and exercise.
Co-ordinated action involving government, industry, health groups and the community, underpinned by a national strategy, will help to ensure that successful policy initiatives are broadly applied.
A focus on childhood obesity
At the 2016 World Health Assembly, Australia supported the World Health Organization’s report, Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO), which reinforced the need for a comprehensive approach to preventing obesity. But Australian governments are yet to act on it.
What the experts are saying:
“We need to work with others across all sectors, particularly outside the health sector, to influence positive change.”
— Diabetes Australia
“Health ministers agreed that a national strategy be developed on obesity, especially in relation to early childhood.”
— COAG Health Council, 2018
“Obesity is a complex problem... a comprehensive set of policy and programs with systematic and sustained co-ordination are needed to support children and families to be healthy and active throughout life.”