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Box 5.1.2‘Things that work’ — injury and preventable diseasesJabba Jabba Indigenous Immunisation Program — Sunshine Coast, QueenslandIndigenous vaccination programs in the past have sometimes had limited success, andthose most in need and at risk of disease have been most difficult to reach. The JabbaJabba Indigenous Immunisation program operated initially as a pilot between March2002 and June 2004 to enable culturally appropriate access for ‘hard to reach’ sectionsof the Indigenous community and to provide an entry point to mainstream healthservices. The program now operates on a permanent basis in recognition of itssuccess in providing Indigenous clients with an entry point to mainstream healthservices.The program operates within an Indigenous child and family health model and providesfirst time vaccinations for children who would otherwise have missed their vaccinationschedules. It also provides follow up to children who were long overdue forvaccinations. The program was designed to have a high degree of cultural sensitivity.For example Indigenous health workers assist the nurse immuniser during homevisiting. This not only breaks down cultural barriers but also enhances the skills andknowledge of Indigenous health workers. Importantly the community has becomeaware of other Indigenous services and has shown increased use of those services(Queensland Government and Central Public Health Unit Network Sunshine Coast2005).Keeping Kids Healthy Makes a Better World, NTThis program operated in four communities in the Northern Territory: Mt Liebig,Titjikala, Nyirripi and Willowra. Funded by UNICEF, Waltja and the Telstra Foundation,its initial aim was to improve the nutrition of 0–5 year olds, but over time it was used toachieve other outcomes such as engagement in the community, cultural awarenessand strength and greater family cohesion, including an emphasis on the role of men.Program strategies included education, providing better access to healthy foods at thecommunity store, healthy breakfast programs, bush tucker and bush medicine activitieswith elders, and gardening. The whole community was involved in these activities.Local workers were trained as nutrition workers. Community engagement was anessential element of program design — in the selection of foods to grow and stock, inthe development of priorities and in developing activities that achieved program aims.The program itself was developed in response to concerns from the local communitiesabout diet.Outcomes included decreased numbers of children failing to thrive, increasedawareness of the importance of nutrition, better access to healthy foods, decreasedincidence of anaemia in children and coordination between community-based agenciessuch as the clinic, school, store and council. The communities involved continued tofocus on better nutrition even after the project came to an end.(Continued next page)5.6 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007