The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) has awarded a $10,000 community grant to the Queensland AIDS Council in Teneriffe, Queensland.
This project attempts to address some of the health and wellbeing inequalities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities (LGBTI), which include low levels of exercise, poor nutrition and obesity.
The grant will enable the Queensland AIDS Council to hold two, 10-week boot camps for up to 60 participants from 16-55 years of age in Brisbane.
There will also be weekend workshops that will teach people about portion control, how to cook nutritious, healthy meals for one and the key tips to buying fresh, seasonal produce.
Medibank Retail State Manager for QLD, Christopher Staines, 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 QLD, expressed overwhelming support for Queensland Association for Healthy Communities' application because their program is giving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people an opportunity to improve their overall health and wellbeing in a an environment where they feel welcomed and accepted ", said Mr Staines.
"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 the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities and its boot camps are doing just that".
Queensland AIDS Council Director of Healthy Communities programs, Gai Lemon, said the program will increase fitness levels and improve participant's mental health.
"LGBTI people have higher rates of chronic illness, poorer mental health and experience a range of other health inequalities as a result of stigma and discrimination," said Ms Lemon.
"Our boot camps are a great, social way for people to get out of the house and get physically and mentally active in an inclusive and accepting environment."
The Queensland AIDS Council is one of 42 recipients chosen from more than 900 applications across Australia and New Zealand to receive a 2014 Medibank Community Fund grant.