Aboriginal Healthy Lifestyle Programs

East Metropolitan Health Service’s Healthy Lifestyle Programs are culturally adapted to suit the needs of the Aboriginal community. All programs are delivered by trained Aboriginal staff members and community consultation is sought for the appropriateness of the programs. Healthy Lifestyle Programs are adapted to suit each individual participant and care is taken to customise information to the participant’s individual health requirements.

Through the delivery of the Healthy Lifestyle Programs, participants are encouraged to actively self-manage their chronic conditions, take control of their health and encourage family members and friends to participate in the programs. Participation helps build capacity within the community in health literacy, self-resilience and self-determination to take control of their health outcomes and to prevent hospitalisation.

Programs include:

The Living Improvements for Everyone (LIFE) course is a free six week program for Aboriginal people who are living with or caring for family members who are at risk of developing long term health conditions.

Participants attend a weekly 2.5 hour session where they gain information and skills on how to better self-manage their health to get the most out of life.

The LIFE course delivers free education and training to the Aboriginal community living within the Perth metropolitan area. This includes:

  • Chronic disease self-management courses
  • LIFE leader’s training
  • LIFE master trainer’s training
  • Health promotion

For more information please read the LIFE brochure (PDF 3MB).

In support of the LIFE Program, I'm Moordidjabinj is a 6 week motivational health and well-being program.

This healthy lifestyle program incorporates a wholesome approach to health with resources providing information on smoking cessation, self-management of chronic disease and relevant information on women’s and men’s health issues including nutritional education and the importance of portion sizes. An exercise physiologist attends the program each week.

At every weekly session participants will:

  • weigh-in and record measurements in their personal handbook/folder
  • take part in an exercise session with an exercise physiologist to support their motivation and goals
  • participate in a cooking class.

For more information please read the I'm Moordidjabinj program brochure (PDF 2.3MB).

The Journey of Living with Diabetes is an 8 week program delivering culturally appropriate diabetes education, knowledge on prevention and self-management skills to the Aboriginal community.

The aim of the program is to increase diabetes health literacy, to empower participants to take control of their own health in partnership with health service providers and to ensure participants understand diabetes and how to look after their own health.

Education is provided on:

  • Type 1 Diabetes – When a person has Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin, people who have Type 1 Diabetes must have insulin injections every day to help them survive.
     
  • Type 2 Diabetes – Early diagnosis and education of Type 2 diabetes is important to enable people make changes in their life that will correct the insulin resistance (e.g. be more active, lose weight if overweight and eat healthy foods) and get their diabetes under control.
     
  • Gestational Diabetes (GDM) – Gestational Diabetes (GDM) is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. The hormones that are produced during pregnancy cause insulin resistance, which means the insulin does not work properly. Gestational Diabetes goes away as soon as the baby is born and the pregnancy hormones are no longer being produced.

For more information please read the Journey of Living with Diabetes program brochure (PDF 1.7MB).

Kworpading Koort delivers culturally secure health education on chronic conditions. Participants gain skills and understanding to make better choices for a healthier lifestyle. A focus is on nutrition and participants learn how to cook meals to demonstrate the simplicity of doing it for themselves and their family.

This program is offered on an ongoing basis excluding school holidays.

A health and wellbeing program facilitated at Nidjalla Waangan Mia Health Service. Participants gain skills and understanding to make better choices for a healthier lifestyle. The program consists of education, nutrition information, cooking and exercise with a qualified Exercise Physiologist.

The program is offered on an ongoing basis excluding school holidays.

A male specific yarning group that meets one Friday every fortnight during the school term. They discuss health issues including spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Moorditj Maaman meets at the Family, Children and Parenting Hub at Middle Swan Primary School in Stratton.

Last Updated: 22/03/2021