Healthy bones for Farmer Harold
Monday, 25 Aug 2025
It’s not every day you see a giraffe at an Aussie dairy farm!
Healthy Harold recently visited his new friends Farmer Mahlah and Farmer Kel to learn more about how to build strong, healthy bones, thanks to Dairy Australia.
This is a part of Healthy Bones Action Week (25 to 31 August), which sees Life Ed Australia and Dairy Australia join forces to inspire and educate primary school kids about the three simple actions that can be taken to support bone health:
- Consuming calcium-rich dairy foods
- Safe sun exposure for Vitamin D, and
- Weight bearing exercise
Together, they’re highlighting the importance of dairy foods for bone development – especially as research shows that 80% of Aussie kids aren’t meeting their recommended daily serves of milk, cheese or yoghurt. 1
Depending on age and sex, kids need between 1.5 and 3.5 serves of dairy every day to ensure they are providing their body with essential nutrients like calcium and protein to promote growth, development and brain function. 2
Many Australians don’t realise how simple it can be to support their family’s bone health through small, consistent dietary choices. Something as easy as a tub of yoghurt or including a slice of cheese on your child’s sandwich can significantly boost their daily calcium intake.
To support educators during Healthy Bones Action Week, Life Ed Australia and Dairy Australia have developed a range of free, curriculum-aligned lesson plans and resources designed for primary school classrooms.
“It’s important to empower children to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, by giving them the knowledge and tools to build health literacy and life-long healthy habits,” Karen Robertson, Head of Education and Impact at Life Ed Australia said.
“We want young people to understand that building strong bones starts now. That means getting enough calcium each day – whether it’s through milk, yoghurt or cheese – especially during their key growth years.
“Participating in activities like running, jumping, and playing sport can help your bones to grow. It’s a great way to boost your mood, spark your imagination and have fun with friends too. We also encourage spending time outdoors in the sunlight to help the body produce Vitamin D, which is essential for absorbing calcium.”
Teachers can access the full suite of resources at dairy.edu.au
References:
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Australian Bureau of Statistics – Australian Health Survey: Consumption of Food Groups from the Australian Dietary Guideline, 2011-12
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Healthy Bones Australia, About Osteoperosis, https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/your-bone-health/about-osteoporosis/
Sponsored By
Dairy Australia
Dairy Australia is partnering with Life Ed, home of beloved mascot Healthy Harold, to promote the importance of including enough dairy in the diets of children nationwide.
