The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to build a Nutrition Workforce in remote First Nations communities.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has signed an agreement with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) to lead the initiative, which will train and engage more than 100 locally employed staff in remote stores.
Nutrition Workforce staff will play an important role in communities, embedded in remote stores to provide culturally appropriate health promotion and nutrition messaging.
In local languages, they will support customers to make more informed and health-conscious food choices and boost consumption of healthy food.
This includes working with customers to boost understanding of nutritional labels, improve stores layout and provide demonstrations on meal preparation.
21 remote positions will begin this financial year, and the Nutrition Workforce will grow to 106 over the following two years.
The positions will be filled by First Nations community members who will undertake tailored training and be supported by qualified nutritionists.
The Nutrition Workforce will begin supporting customers at ALPA stores in Galiwin'ku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Minjilang and Ramingining in the Northern Territory as well as stores in Cape York and the Torres Strait, and other community owned stores across remote Australia.
The Nutrition Workforce is part of the Albanese Government’s program to improve Food Security in remote First Nations communities.
The program also includes the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme, which is reducing the price of 30 essential items in remote stores that have signed up to a new National Code of Practice.
The Nutrition Workforce aligns with outcomes under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap including that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives, and strong economic participation and development of First Nations people and their communities.
For more information visit Food security in remote First Nations communities | NIAA
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to improving food security in remote communities because we know it leads to better health outcomes for First Nations people.
“The government is pleased to partner with ALPA on this initiative as their leadership and expertise is vital to deliver this transformative work.
“We know Indigenous Australians in remote stores receiving advice from trusted people in a supportive and culturally appropriate environment are more likely to make healthier purchasing choices.
“Employing a local workforce to provide nutritional advice to people living in remote communities is a vital component of our food security program.”
Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for Remote Communities and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour MP:
“Our government is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people in remote communities.
“We are reducing the cost of 30 everyday essential items and with this new investment we are ensuring that people in remote areas have the tools to make healthy choices for themselves.
“Employing local people to deliver tailored advice in communities means a higher level of trust and a higher chance of long-term healthy habits being formed.”
Quotes attributable to ALPA Chairperson Mätjarra Garrawurra:
“It’s a manymak [good] thing for people to be working together for the health of our people.
“It [the ALPA Nutrition Policy] has been happening before. This is making it stronger, creating djama [work] so people can focus on healthy ŋatha [food] because we’ve got a lot of sick people, and we are trying to encourage them to focus on healthy foods.
“It’s a good thing for Yolŋu, doing djama [work] and on the job training.”
Quotes attributable to ALPA CEO, Alastair King:
“ALPA is excited to deliver this program and deliver accredited and non-accredited training opportunities, building local capacity and creating long-term sustainability.
“ALPA is ideally placed to work with the Australian Government and lead this important initiative, having delivered nutrition programs in our stores since the early 1980s.
“ALPA has had a long commitment to health and wellbeing in stores, and we look forward to working with other retail groups across remote Australia.”
Quotes attributable to Associate Professor Megan Ferguson, Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland:
“Leaders in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the health and retail organisations who support their efforts, have long called for a nutrition workforce.
“The First Nations Nutrition Workforce Initiative responds to this call and provides significant investment in employment and training in community.
“The impact of having a dedicated nutrition workforce supporting store efforts and government initiatives on the ground will be immense.”