Indigenous healthy lifestyle project

• Reach:

  WA

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Completed

• Evaluated:

  Yes

Overview

The Indigenous healthy lifestyle project (IHLP) aimed to assist Indigenous communities to improve lifestyle and reduce risk factors for chronic disease by enabling them to be responsive to their own health priorities.

This initiative focused on:

• improving coordination and reducing duplication of service
• promoting cultural well-being and emphasising local ownership.

Five sites in Western Australia (WA) were selected for the project based on identified areas of need, community support for chronic disease programs, infrastructure to support the program and recent developments in the communities. They were:

• Norseman (Goldfields)
• Western Desert communities of Jigalong, Kunawarritji, Parnngurr and Punmu (East Pilbara)
• Halls Creek (Kimberley)
• Kwinana (Metropolitan)
• Peel (Metropolitan).

While each site had different priorities, they all aimed to improve health through community-based activities that promoted healthy lifestyles and improved use of services.

The project was evaluated in 2009-2010 by the Office of Aboriginal Health, Department of Health WA. The IHLPs flexible model of supporting community-based projects was found to be successful in enabling communities to adopt healthy behaviours using a holistic approach. This was achieved through the dedication of project workers who used their good community relationships to implement the projects. The programs recorded stories which demonstrated many positive changes resulting from people having the confidence to take control of their health.

These findings are relevant to other Indigenous health projects, such as those funded through the Council of Australian Government's Closing the gap program.

Abstract adapted from the Department of Health Western Australia

Contacts

Linda Waters
Project Officer
Health Networks Branch
Department of Health WA
Ph: (08) 9222 0200
Email: linda.waters@health.wa.gov.au
Email: healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au

Evaluated publications

Larson A (2010)

Indigenous Healthy Lifestyle program evaluation: final report.

Perth, WA: Western Australian Department of Health

• Links
• View report: Indigenous Healthy Lifestyle program evaluation: final report (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• View information: Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI)
• View information: Indigenous Healthy Lifestyle program evaluation: final report
• View website: Western Australian Department of Health

Links

• View information: Indigenous healthy lifestyle project
• View contact details: Health Networks Branch, Department of Health WA
• View website: Department of Health Western Australia