The Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge

Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network

Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge
The Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge (AKHC), sponsored by the Ministry of Health and NSW Rugby League, is a primary chronic disease prevention program targeting obesity and physical activity in NSW Aboriginal communities. Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network and Corrective Services NSW formed a partnership to adapt and pilot the AKHC at Wellington Correctional Centre (September – November 2016).
 
Strategies included the provision of information for staff and inmates, a healthy lifestyles education program and an intensive 10 week challenge for a targeted number of inmates. 20 male and 42 female inmates participated in the challenge, achieving a total weight loss of 84.93kg.
 
Challenge ambassadors provided advice to the inmates on exercise, fitness and nutrition. Female inmates established a vegetable garden, and the Challenge concluded with a presentation and NRL Round-Robin gala day.
 

Healthy Food in Childcare - An Online Solution

Hunter New England Local Health District


Approximately 22% of children aged 5-17 in NSW are overweight or obese (NSW Health, 2013) and less than 5% of childcare centres in NSW meet nutrition guidelines (Yoong 2014). This initiative aimed to improve young children’s diets by supporting childcare services to provide meals consistent with dietary guidelines.
 
A high-intensity dietitian support program was effective in improving provision of healthier foods and children’s diets. However, high delivery costs limited its ability to be delivered at scale. To ensure that all children in care have access to healthy foods, an online menu-planning program was developed which has been effective in supporting planning of healthier menus and improving children’s diets.
The free program has been disseminated nationally, with over 1800 services (400 in NSW) accessing the program.
 

Improving Oral Health Care for Aboriginal Children

South Western Sydney Local Health District

Improving Oral Health Care for Aboriginal Children
Aboriginal children have high prevalence of dental decay with many requiring hospitalisation for treatment. Compounding the situation is the limited oral health awareness among Aboriginal families and access to dental services. To address these issues, partnerships were formed between South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), Western Sydney University/University of NSW and Aboriginal organisations (KARI/Tharawal AMS) to raise oral health awareness among Aboriginal children through field/case workers, culturally-sensitive oral health promotional material and dental referral pathways to SWSLHD.
 
To date, there has been a 41% increase in the number of parents receiving information about childhood oral health and 20% improvement in their oral health knowledge. Further, 211 Aboriginal children accessed SWSLHD to receive oral assessment (66%), restorative work for dental decay (15%) and preventative treatment to minimise future dental decay (58%).
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Current as at: Friday 7 September 2018
Contact page owner: Strategic Communications and Engagement