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Indigenous Victorians experience significant health inequalities compared with non-indigenous Victorians.
Life expectancy for Indigenous people is 17 years lower than the national average, with death rates from diabetes among Indigenous people almost 10 times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. 

Poor nutrition is associated with low birth weight; ill health in infancy and childhood; and increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.  Since diet related diseases are the principal cause of illness and death among Indigenous Australians, improving nutrition and physical activity should be a priority if we are to improve the overall health status.

Federal, State and Territory Health Ministers endorsed the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan 2000-2010 (NATSINSAP) in 2001.  The strategy highlights seven key areas for action, four of which are relevant for Victoria:

  • Food security and socioeconomic status
  • Family focused nutrition promotion
  • Nutrition issues in urban areas
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition workforce
Koori Maternity Unit


Our Activities:

VACCHO will be conducting a state-wide scoping exercise and review of successful programs to produce an action plan for Victoria for Indigenous nutrition and physical activity. Other key activities include:

  • Developing and delivering training in nutrition and physical activity promotion for Aboriginal Health Workers
  • Establishing a Victorian network for people working on Indigenous nutrition/physical activity projects
  • Providing support to Victorian Aboriginal organisations to run their own community nutrition and physical activity programs
  • Involvement in the Making Healthy Choices for Ourselves research project which aims to define key factors influencing Victorian Aboriginal Communities to better understand and participate in nutrition and physical activity initiatives

 

Click here to find useful links about this unit.
 

Calendar
12/11/2008
Metropolitan Best Practice Forum