Primary school workshops helping everyone shine bright and ‘Close the Gap’

Hunter Primary Care has developed a new and exciting program, ‘Yantiin Kalabara – 5 ways to a healthier you’, aimed at educating young people in regional areas to make healthy living choices through a series of interactive workshops.

Funded by the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network, Yantiin Kalabara - an Aboriginal phrase meaning ‘Everyone Shining Bright’, will be delivered to five (5) local primary schools with a large percentage of Indigenous enrolments.

The program will feature a series of interactive ‘pit-stop’ stations delivered by Hunter Primary Care’s Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist, Occupational Therapist and Aboriginal Health Workers. The pit-stops will provide students with information about positive health impacts in an effort to ‘Close the Gap’ and create better health awareness for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

As well as educating children about the importance of creating healthy eating habits, increasing physical activity, drinking more water and reducing screen time, the launch of the program on 18 March 2020 coincides with National Close the Gap Day on 19 March 2020.

On average, there is a 10 year mortality gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians. With just two of the seven ‘Closing the Gap’ government targets on track, there has been no progress on the goal to close the life expectancy gap by 2031.

Hunter Primary Care CEO, Ms Brenda Ryan said that the program is important for the entire community and aligns to the organisation’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

“Yantiin Kalabara provides us with an opportunity to not only create healthy habits in primary-aged children, but also to work towards closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people,” Ms Ryan said.

“As an organisation, we are committed to reconciliation and building strong, sustainable and mutually respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians. By focusing on improving relationships, enhancing respect and promoting opportunities, Hunter Primary Care is working to create a reconciled and equitable Australia.”

Hunter Primary Care also commissioned Dr Joel Wenitong to create a hip hop and dance track for the project. Dr Wenitong, a decedent of the Kabi Kabi people of south-east Queensland, is a practicing GP, one third of hip hop crew The Last Kinection, and was also a primary school teacher for over a decade.