Department of Health
A gateway to the strategies, policies, programs and services delivered by the Department of Health.
A Tasmanian Government and Community Partnership
Delivering culturally appropriate short courses on nutrition and physical activity to Tasmanian Aboriginal community members through community connections and stories.
The kipli nayri takariliya rrala project was developed as a result of community need – to improve access to essential foods and physical activity opportunities and to increase the skills, knowledge, confidence and self-efficacy of Tasmanian Aboriginal community members in family nutrition and physical activity.
Through the project, participants have improved food intake, mealtime environments, food messages and participation in physical activity.
The kipli nayri takariliya rrala short course was developed based on the Family Food Patch peer educator course and modified to include culturally relevant information and handouts.
The 20-hour short course was spread over a number of weeks, with delivery being flexible and catering to particular groups’ requirements. The workshops were held six times across the state – in New Norfolk, Hobart, Cape Barren Island, Burnie and twice in Launceston. A shorter 12-hour version was also delivered to participants of the Training for Success course, a new pre-employment course of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre held in Hobart.
Community members were recruited as co-facilitators for the program and provided with information on the project and time with the dietitian to discuss the content and plan the delivery.
Co-facilitators were well placed to promote and build interest in the course with most having many connections with the community and the ability to involve more people and engage closely with participants.
Feedback obtained from co-facilitators indicated the many benefits they obtained as a result of their roles, including increased confidence and skills for the workforce, community connections, sense of purpose, as well as making changes to their own and their families’ eating and attitudes to food.
Community members have also reported making significant changes to their own and their families’ eating, mealtime environments, attitudes to food and eating, and messages given about food. Participants also valued the importance of the social aspect of the groups.
Project partners included the Family Food Patch program, ptunarra Child and Family Centre Derwent Valley and Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association.
image: kipli nayri takariliya rrala short course: providing nutrition and physical activity information to Tasmanian Aboriginal community members through community connections and stories.