THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health
and Regional Services Delivery
16 August 2009
SEVEN YARNS ABOUT LIVING WELL IN A KOORI COMMUNITY
Indigenous people in East Gippsland will learn more about managing Type 2 diabetes
through a new Federal Government funded seven week education program.
The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, today announced a grant of $89,131
for the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service to implement ‘Seven Yarns about living well in a
Koori Community’.
“A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, shows a 63 per
cent increase in new cases of insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes in Australia from 2000 to 2007,”
said Mr Snowdon.
“It is also a disease more prevalent amongst Indigenous Australians, and can result in
cardiovascular and kidney disease, and death.
“This project at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service is designed, through informal ‘yarning’,
to teach people the importance of managing the disease through diet and exercise, and
changing lifestyle habits,” he said.
“Specific Type 2 Diabetes information will be supplemented by topics including Stress
Management, Spirituality, Exercise, Nutrition, Connectedness and Personal Environment.”
The ‘Seven yarns about living well in a Koori community’ program is one of 82 projects
funded by the Rudd Government to provide much needed assistance to those Australians
dealing with chronic illness.
Other Federal Government diabetes initiatives include:
Reducing the cost of type 2 diabetes Program, which supports lifestyle changes with
funding of $103.4 million over four years; and
Practice Incentives Program, which encourages practices to provide early diagnosis
and best practice management of patients with type 2 diabetes.
through National Health and Medical Research Council, the Rudd Government has
invested over $57 million for diabetes research;
Media contact: Kate Sieper 0488 484 689.
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