Living longer in Indigenous communities

By Lillian Radulova

A how-to guide on using social media is part of a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion pack available to health workers.

The resource was developed as part of the governments’ Live Longer! campaign, with the aim of lowering the risk factors of chronic disease and closing the gap in life expectancy.

The Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Warren Snowdon said, “The Community Health Action Pack will assist people working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to better design, develop and deliver health promotion projects addressing the needs of their local communities. We’re providing comprehensive campaign resources, and a detailed how-to guide for running successful social marketing campaigns at a local level.

“The campaign promotes four key healthy lifestyle choices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to improve their life expectancy; giving up smoking, eating healthy food, exercising regularly and having regular medical check-ups.”

“Our research tells us it’s important Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves spread the word within their communities that chronic disease such as cancer and diabetes are not inevitable, and to change the social acceptance many communities have surrounding high risk behaviors like smoking,” Mr Snowdon said.

An online version of the Community Health Action Pack is available online