Media release
From the Minister for Health
Friday, 6 October 2006
KOORI BUBS GET IN THE SWIM TO WIN HEALTH AWARD
An innovative program to boost the health of Koori kids in the GippslandLakes region has been recognised in the 2006 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
Announced by Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, the Koori Bubs Swim Program, run by Gippsland Lakes Community Health, won the Excellence in prevention and early intervention category at a ceremony in Melbourne last night.
“We know that if we can get people interested in physical activity at an early age, then the health gains can be huge,” Ms Pike said.
“This is even more important when we’re talking about the indigenous community because Indigenous Victorians have a higher rate of diseases associated with physical inactivity, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, then the general population.
“In addition, the drowning rate of indigenous children is three times higher than for non-indigenous people.
“That’s why the Koori Bubs Swim Program is such a wonderful initiative, combining healthy physical activity with potentially life-saving lessons about water safety.”
Under the program indigenous children from Gippsland Lakes, aged between 0 and five, together with family members and childcare workers meet at the local YMCA swimming pool each Monday to have fun in the water, socialise and enjoy a shared lunch.
Over the past two years, Koori youngsters and their carers have got into the habit of swimming weekly, feeling good about coming to the YMCA and generally being more engaged with the wider community.
Two other programs were also highly commended in the samecategory - a program by Western Region Health Centre to tackle the stigma of mental illness and an innovative education program by Peninsula Health to reduce teen pregnancies on the MorningtonPeninsula.
The awards, judged by 86 experts from the Victorian healthcare industry lead by respected health commentator Dr Norman Swan, have attracted hundreds of entrants and are now the biggest event on the State’s public healthcare calendar.
“The quality of entrants for this annual award event set the bar at a new level this year, with many deserving entries unable to be recognised, really emphasising the strength of the Victorian public health system,” Ms Pike said.
Media contact: Ben Hart on 9651 5799 or 0407 445 551