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Providing fresh fruit and vegetable supplies, scholarships, and a men’s shed are all part of an ambitious program to improve the health of people living in communities in WA’s Western Desert.

The Martu Healthy Lifestyle Program is an initiative of the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health (SSEH).

K ey aims of the program are to improve the health and lifestyle of community members in the Western Desert and decrease the incidence of chronic diseases.

Known as ‘Kurrunpa Kunyjunya’, the program is funded by the Office of Aboriginal Health, with assistance from Newcrest Mining and BHP Billiton.

It was initiated by James Back, then principal of RAWA School, Punmu; Leon Van Erp of Newcrest Mining; and Kerry Smith, the director of programs at SSEH.

The program took shape following consultation with Martu community members, community councils, the Western Desert Lands Council, and internal and external health providers.

It employs three full-time and one part-time staff in the communities of Jigalong and Punmu, with assistance also provided to the communities of Parnnngurr and Kunawarritji.

Staff live full-time in the communities in housing funded by BHP Billiton, and aim to promote a healthier lifestyle and liaise with external health providers to enable community members to access services. They also assist internal community service providers in their programming, provide environmental health services and train and support Martu community members. The staff members are supported by part-time Martu staff that assist with activities such as healthy cooking, physical activity and other health promotion programs.

The work includes fundraising for a new physical activity centre for Punmu, as well as supporting and funding a group of community men as they work towards the construction of a men’s shed.

The first of what is hoped will be many full scholarships for Martu adolescents to attend secondary boarding school has also been organised to commence in 2010.

In addition, program staff are helping Newcrest Mining institute a ‘stores program’ to enable the fortnightly delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables into the communities.

Staff are supported by program manager James Back and director Kerry Smith and a board consisting of Martu community members, relevant funding partners and interested health providers.

The School’s research team – Dr Rebecca Braham, Dr Michael Rosenberg, Professor Tim Ackland, Dr James Dimmock and Dr Kate Smith in liaison with James Back and Kerry Smith – has been granted an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in conjunction with partners Newcrest Mining, the Office of Aboriginal Health and BHP Billiton.