Yarra Valley Indigenous Nutrition Enhancement Project

1. Yarra Valley Indigenous Nutrition Enhancement Project Jo Stanford, Project Coordinator & Community Dietitian Gail Crozier, Indigenous Nutrition Support Worker Simon Woodland, Community Garden Worker

2. Project Overview • Three year NCNP project, commenced early 2002 • Yarra Valley Community Health Service, • Indigenous Health Team • Located in Healesville, 60 km east of Melbourne • Site of the original Coranderrk Aboriginal Mission Station • Currently over 500 Indigenous Australians living in the area

3. Objectives • Increase access to nutritious food to Indigenous community. • Improve nutritional intake and interrelationships of Indigenous families. • Improve nutritional intake and social functioning of primary school children in the Yarra Valley. Multi-level approach - strategies represent home, school and community

4. Strategies • Employ an Indigenous person as a Nutrition Support Worker to work with families and small groups to encourage healthy cooking and shopping techniques • Starting a community garden for Indigenous community, plant gardens at schools and develop programs to engage children in the gardens.

5. Strategies (cont’d) • Work towards developing nutrition friendly schools, includes breakfast programs, nutrition in the curriculum, healthy canteen menus, newsletter inserts and food and nutrition policy. • ‘Down to Earth’ - 2004 program, 2 primary schools, Year 2, 10 sessions. Aims: establish a kitchen garden, nutrition education, food preparation, with a theme of Indigenous history and culture.

6. Project Impact • Established a cooking group and individual family program. Regular participants from these programs describe an increase in their nutrition knowledge and cooking skills • Established the physical space for the community garden, currently building up community interest • Implemented healthy menu and staff development at two schools, monthly newsletter insert in 8 schools

7. Project Impact (cont’d) • Planning curriculum and kitchen gardens in two schools for 2004 • Several successful partnerships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations • Community recognition and increased levels of participation

8. Contextual FactorsLocal Environment • Presence of the Indigenous Health Team at CHS • Community elders enthusiastic about program • Mobility of community members bringing more parents who value nutrition for children • New community jobs program has provided partnership and resources

9. Contextual FactorsWider environment • Recent findings and media interest in child obesity rates helped to gain support of the schools • Health sector increasingly valuing the importance of health promotion

10. Community EngagementBarriers • Community difficult to engage. • Loss of generational connectedness and distrust • Low income, unemployment, domestic violence and substance abuse leads to powerlessness & reliance on Centrelink payments. • Same few doing the work each time

11. Community Engagement - Facilitators • Engage key elders and community members • Employ an Indigenous person to work with clients • Take it slowly • Program is practical, simple and cost free to community

12. Community Engagement -Facilitators (2) • Multi-level approach providing ample opportunity to be involved • Gain support of Indigenous community groups & orgs • Keep in mind the ‘bigger picture’ of social health • Work toward the principles of Aboriginal reconciliation

13. Evaluation • Little published work on Indigenous nutrition programs in Victoria - aim to publish our evaluation • Assisted in defining boundaries, criteria & program aims • Mostly process evaluation, made several minor changes due to opportunity, practicalities and community needs. • Expect evaluation will assist in creating sustainability and successfully obtaining future funding.

14. Sustainability • Each activity has a different means of sustainability. • Consultant recommended nutrition program be supported & sustained • Tangible results, eg presence of community & school gardens, and canteen menus. • Partnerships with Indigenous employment, education, health, housing and family support programs. • Involve local Aboriginal Reconciliation Group • Seek funding from outside organisations

15. Sustainability (cont’d) For the school programs: Seek principal, school council, & parent c’tee support; Develop nutrition policy both canteen & whole school; Create curriculum that benefits teachers &children Work within an Indigenous Health Team, promote the program through the team via staff development and networking. Engage community via the team - team members are also community members

16. Next Time • Reduce expectations of how much can be achieved over time. Difficulty engaging community has slowed timelines and reduced target numbers. • Be more proactive in networking and following up contacts. • Allow more time for bureaucracy to take its course, i.e. seeking approval from ethics committees and DET.

17. Contact Details Yarra Valley Community Health Service Shop 2/297 Maroondah Highway Healesville VIC 3777 Tel: 1300 130 381 Email:jo.stanford@yvchs.org.au