A Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) project which aims to support better nutrition in remote Aboriginal communities has been awarded $9000 in funding by the Mary MacKillop Foundation.
Menzies' project in Nyirripi, one of the most isolated communities in the Central Desert, is working with the local community to employ a variety of strategies to encourage residents to make better choices at the community store and better understand the benefits of good food for their health and wellbeing.
Menzies’ senior research fellow, Dr Julie Brimblecombe said the project will help to support local energy and enthusiasm around positive, healthy lifestyles.
“Good food is at the foundation of good health, and good health is the basis from which we find the energy and motivation to participate more fully in education, community life, employment and the like,” Dr Brimblecombe said.
“In this way, this small project becomes a vital volley in contributing to good health in Nyirripi.”
Dr Brimblecombe thanked the Mary MacKillop Foundation for having the foresight to support a project which will hopefully serve as a model for other remote communities to embrace.
“For this project, store-owners and community store committees will be assisted to develop strategies to improve their community’s diet over 12 months and to monitor progress through receiving reports on point of sale data,” she said.
“With proven effectiveness in other remote communities - resulting in real, measurable changes in food buying choices - this project supports better nutrition in remote Aboriginal communities.”
For more information about the Mary MacKillop Foundation visit their website.