This project was officially launched on the 7th of October 2010 in Kalgoorlie. It is a major kidney arts in health education program delivered to 10 Western Desert Communities by the Rural Clinical School of WA, Bega Garbarringu Medical Health Service, the Goldfields Esperance General Practice Network and Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Corporation.
The aim of the project is to reduce kidney disease by 20% by developing a culturally appropriate delivery of health messages, collaborating with, and skilling up Indigenous ‘arts health workers’. This model was developed during a piloted project called ‘Wanti Sugarba' Stop the Sugar, in 2007.
The Department of Culture and the Arts has contributed funding to the three year project, which is managed by the Rural Clinical School of WA. The project will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team of Aboriginal health workers, community development, medical and arts practitioners. The team travel in two purpose built 7 tonne 4WD vehicles including, a mobile health clinic and arts vehicle.
The scope and complexity of the project, means there are many stakeholders, including the ten communities, project delivery partners, funding bodies and sponsors and a range of Government and NGO partners.
Major funding partners include Lotterywest, BHP Billiton Nickel West, The Australia Council for the Arts through Community Partnerships, Healthway, the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, The Department of Health and Ageing, Goldfields Esperance Development Commission through Royalties for Regions funding and the John T Reid Charitable Trust.
The project was recently featured at the 11th National Rural Health Conference held in Perth from the 13th to the 16th March 2011.
To find out more details please visit the Arts Health Foundation website.
