Home
- » Key resources
  - » Programs and projects
    - » Healthy Food Awareness program

Healthy Food Awareness program

Reach:
NSW
Focus area:
Indigenous
Status:
Current
Evaluated:
No

Overview

The Healthy food awareness program is designed for people with obesity, diabetes, renal disease and other chronic illness.

Run one day a week at the Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service and at the local outreach clinics, the sessions are held in a comfortable environment so participants can discuss and ask questions about diet and exercise and other health-related issues.

The Healthy food awareness program was developed to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity, and to target other lifestyle factors that have a negative impact on health, such as smoking. Using visual aids such as a sheep's heart from the local abattoir, and performing lung function tests have been very successful in illustrating the messages.

The program has been extended to include five communities in the region, and the AMS team has also commenced working with the local school to promote healthy eating to the children.

Contacts

Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service
43 Johnston Street
Casino NSW 2470
Ph: (02) 6662 3514
Fax: (02) 6662 4849
Email: info@casinoams.com

Related publications

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (2009)

10 out of 10 deadly health stories - nutrition and physical activity.

Surry Hills, NSW: Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW

The 10 out of 10 deadly health stories - nutrition and physical activity booklet presents 10 successful nutrition and physical activity programs from NSW Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs). Programs ranged from cooking classes (Cooking classes for diabetes program) and teaching of life skills (Healthy lifestyle and weight management program), to community based activities (Fruit and vegetable program and market garden and Building healthy communities project). Despite the diversity in health topics they all shared several features, namely all were developed and tailored to meet needs identified by the Aboriginal communities in which the ACCHSs are located, and all have taken a 'holistic' approach.

The booklet was developed, produced and distributed by the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC) of NSW and funding was provided by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract