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A mix of ancient sand-drawing techniques using fencing wire and modern projection technology will be used to educate Aboriginal people about preventing kidney disease in a project that aims to save lives in Australia's vast Western Desert.

The Western Desert Kidney Health Project aims to reduce disease and diabetes by 20 per cent over three years in 10 Aboriginal communities.  A multidisciplinary team of Aboriginal health, medical and community development workers and artists will run a major health education campaign over an area the size of Victoria and populated by about 7,500 people representing six language groups.

The project's Chief Investigator is respected senior Wongutha woman Annette Stokes of The University of Western Australia's Kalgoorlie-based Rural Clinical School.

Sand-drawing was traditionally done by women using a story stick (and more recently fencing wire) to tell narratives.  In this project, the drawing will be animated and project workers will use the images to describe how an improvement in diet, an increase in exercise, and stress-management would provide better health outcomes.

Funding comes from a range of Government partners and BHP Billiton Nickel West has funded a Community Development Officer to work with people to solve issues such as the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables and safe drinking water.  The project will be delivered by the Rural Clinical School of WA (which has UWA and the University of Notre Dame as partners); Bega Garnbirringu Health Services; the Goldfields Esperance GP Network and Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Corporation.

WHAT: Launch of the Western Desert Kidney Health Project

WHERE: Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Corporation, 2 Forrest Street, Kalgoorlie

WHEN: Media call for interviews, photographs and vision 9am, Thursday 7 October (launch held at 6.30pm Thursday 7 October)

Media references

Annette Stokes (Rural Clinical School)  (+61 8) 9091 0664
Associate Professor Christine Jeffries-Stokes (Rural Clinical School)  (+61 4) 07 387 602
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716