Join Daniel Browning as he showcases some great health promotion and community development programs in rural and remote Australia that aim to improve health and nutrition in Indigenous communities. He also discusses the issues with Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver, Director of the Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit and Anthea Fawcett, Founder and Director of the Remote Indigenous Gardens Network.
Prevention of chronic disease is key to closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Good nutrition helps prevent chronic disease. There is enormous potential to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic disease with a wide range of strategies to improve nutrition.
Featured programs include:
Tucker Buddies, Bulla Community, Northern Territory:
The Tucker Buddies program was developed by Katherine West Health Board, the Bulla community and the local school. Bulla is a remote Aboriginal community located 250 kilometres from Katherine.
Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation Fruit and Vegetable Program, Grafton, Maclean and Yamba, NSW:
The Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation in Grafton offer families a weekly delivery of subsidised fruit and vegetables. Regular health checks, cooking advice and dietary information is also provided to families. This program grew out of concern about the high rate of infections in children, particularly otitis media and skin infections. Children were identified as being deficient in Vitamin C and iron.
Horticulture Course and Community Garden Project: Kimberley Training Institute, Broome Campus, WA:
Kim Courtenay, a horticulture lecturer at the Broome campus of the Kimberley Training Institute, has organised horticultural training programs (Certificate 1-4) to assist with the establishment of community fruit and vegetable gardens and the cultivation of traditionally important native plants such as gubinge.
In recent years there has been increasing recognition of the need to establish sustainable enterprises in remote Aboriginal Communities to address health and nutrition issues and to rebuild their connections with bush tucker. This project works closely with trained Community Elders, such as Meridoo Walbidi, and supports the establishment of sustainable fruit and vegetable gardens in remote communities.
Produced by the Rural Health Education Foundation
http://www.rhef.com.au/
Prevention of chronic disease is key to closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Good nutrition helps prevent chronic disease. There is enormous potential to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic disease with a wide range of strategies to improve nutrition.
Featured programs include:
Tucker Buddies, Bulla Community, Northern Territory:
The Tucker Buddies program was developed by Katherine West Health Board, the Bulla community and the local school. Bulla is a remote Aboriginal community located 250 kilometres from Katherine.
Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation Fruit and Vegetable Program, Grafton, Maclean and Yamba, NSW:
The Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation in Grafton offer families a weekly delivery of subsidised fruit and vegetables. Regular health checks, cooking advice and dietary information is also provided to families. This program grew out of concern about the high rate of infections in children, particularly otitis media and skin infections. Children were identified as being deficient in Vitamin C and iron.
Horticulture Course and Community Garden Project: Kimberley Training Institute, Broome Campus, WA:
Kim Courtenay, a horticulture lecturer at the Broome campus of the Kimberley Training Institute, has organised horticultural training programs (Certificate 1-4) to assist with the establishment of community fruit and vegetable gardens and the cultivation of traditionally important native plants such as gubinge.
In recent years there has been increasing recognition of the need to establish sustainable enterprises in remote Aboriginal Communities to address health and nutrition issues and to rebuild their connections with bush tucker. This project works closely with trained Community Elders, such as Meridoo Walbidi, and supports the establishment of sustainable fruit and vegetable gardens in remote communities.
Produced by the Rural Health Education Foundation
http://www.rhef.com.au/