Be Healthy: Implementing Culturally Secure Programs For Obesity And Chronic Disease Prevention With Remote Aboriginal Communities And Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,972.00
Summary
Environments cultivated in recent decades encouraging physical inactivity and poor diet have disproportionately affected Aboriginal people. Appropriate lifestyle modification programs substantially improves outcomes. We have co-designed, piloted and refined the 'Be Healthy' program with Derby Aboriginal people. This project aims to show how this program can be scaled up and transferred to other Aboriginal communities, leading to reduced rates of obesity, and improved health and quality of life.
Working With Horses To Promote The Wellbeing Of Aboriginal Youth: An Experiential Learning Approach For The Kimberley
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,516,797.00
Summary
This project aims to implement an Aboriginal-led Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) program in multiple locations across the Kimberley to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal youth. EAL is a learning approach where participants learn important life skills by 'doing' activities with horses. These activities enhance problem-solving skills, communication, self‐awareness, and emotional regulation by engaging multiple brain systems, which can help cope with disruptive life stressors.