The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) has awarded a $10,000 community grant to Moorditj Training & Community Services in Pingelly, Western Australia.
The grant will enable the Moorditj Youth Foundation Aboriginal Corporation to deliver a 'Healthy Lifestyles Program' targeted towards 100 Indigenous young people from 16 to 24 years of age.
The 'Healthy Lifestyles Program' will encourage young people to participate in two fitness classes and 'Healthy Tucker' sessions per week, while learning how to cook nutritious meals for the whole family.
Participants will also have access to craft and other activities to help prevent them from engaging in at-risk behaviour.
Medibank State Manager for WA, Andy Bray, said the program embraced the Medibank Community Fund's priorities of promoting healthy eating, physical activity and greater community connectedness -the key selection criteria for the MCF grants program.
"Medibank employees on our Regional Council from across WA, expressed overwhelming support for Moorditj Training & Community Services' application because their program takes a preventative and proactive approach to adolescent Indigenous health by providing young people with the skills needed to live a healthy and active life", said Mr Bray.
"The Medibank Community Fund grants program supports local, grassroots initiatives that aim to create a lasting and positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of people in the community and Moorditj Training & Community Services and its 'Healthy Lifestyles Program' are doing just that".
Moorditj Training & Community Services', Malcolm Jetta, said the program is a vital resource for young Indigenous people living in Pingelly.
"The program aims to motivate young people to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing through exercise and cooking classes, which promote lifelong healthy eating habits," said Mr Jetta.
"Through culturally relevant education, we believe the program will help prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes and reduce the prevalence of at-risk behaviour occurring in Pingelly."
Moorditj Training & Community Services is one of 42 recipients chosen from more than 900 applications across Australia and New Zealand to receive a 2014 Medibank Community Fund grant.