Location:                     156 Wittenoom St  East Perth  WA  6004

The Health Promotion team is a state initiative to target improved nutrition, increased physical activity, decreased smoking and addresses other health issues. They identify needs, develop culturally appropriate strategies and implement health promotion programs to the community.

The unit’s main task is to support programs and projects across the organisation to help individuals, families and community groups to promote beneficial lifestyle practices and the prevention of disease related to the neglect of these.

The Health Promotions Unit has assisted in the design and development of programme brochures, promotional merchandise and in- house literature aimed at spreading the health message at the same time raising the profile of Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in the Community. All materials are conferred on and designed to be culturally- appropriate and as locally- specific as possible.

Physical Activity:

The STRENGTH (Seniors Talking Relaxing, Exercising now for Total Health) group, run on a fortnightly basis for HACC clients involves this group in resistance- based exercises and relaxation techniques specifically designed for individuals over 50 with existing health conditions.

Health information sessions are offered as is the opportunity to confer with each other on their own health issues and share practical ways of dealing with complications arising from ill- health and physical limitations.

Sport and Recreation seniors’ days, the DYHS Seniors’ Ball, Line-dancing lessons and art classes are just a few of the activities which promote physical activity.

Marmun Pit Stop:

Recently, the Marmun Pit Stop, a health promotional initiative adopted by DYHS in 2004, has gathered momentum in recent months through outreach to the Aboriginal male community in Perth. ‘Marmun’ (the Noongar word for male) Pit Stop employs an automotive paradigm to provide a quick, “while you weight” 8 check- point health assessment for men. The checkpoints are named after features of a car and indicate, in a way men can relate to easily, how our own physical health warrants at least, the same kind of attention we afford the family car.

Smoking:

DYHS supports clients in their attempt to quit smoking by providing free nicotine patches, advice and counselling referrals. A range of resources are currently being developed for distribution to our clients ensuring optimal effectiveness in the local community.

Nutrition:

Good nutrition is promoted with both specific diabetes education and education regarding healthy food choices.

Diabetes education incorporates the use of a DYHS commissioned health folder containing pamphlets on heart health and diabetes management. This culturally- appropriate resource is a helpful reference point for all health promotion areas in the Service and introduces topics of right and wrong diet and exercise choices for those requiring information on how to prevent symptoms of chronic disease.

The DYHS Open Day celebrations, Sorry Day in May and the NAIDOC Family Day in July, 2005 presented prime opportunities to promote a good nutrition message by providing low- cost nutritious food and beverage choices to the large numbers of attendees at those events.