February 2012

Can you deliver the Life! program in another language?

In last month’s Life!Style we discussed broadening the Life! program reach into CALD communities.

We are investigating ways we can successfully promote and support participation of people from CALD backgrounds into the Life! program.

In addition, we'll be exploring ways we can support the specific needs of particular CALD groups, including specific resources and training bilingual health professionals to deliver Life! sessions in their first language. 

If you currently work with CALD clients and are interested in delivering the Life! program in your community, please email Robyn, Health Promotion Officer – Aboriginal & Cultural Diversity, or phone on 03 8648 1825.

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Calls for expressions of interest: Aboriginal Victorians Life! program facilitators

As covered in last month’s Life!Style, the Aboriginal Victorians Life! program will be rolled out in 2012. This arm of the Life! program uses the Life! Road to Good Health (RTGH) course.

Facilitator training has been specifically developed for Aboriginal Health Workers and other health professionals working in Aboriginal health (both in mainstream or community controlled health settings) for RTGH’s delivery.

The next instance of RTGH facilitator training will take place in March 2012. For more information please email Robyn, Health Promotion Officer – Aboriginal & Cultural Diversity or phone on 03 8648 1825.

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Plain language diabetes resources

Could your clients benefit from diabetes resources that are simple and attractive but useful if they cannot read, read only a little, use English as a second language, or have a university education?

Canadian dietitian and diabetes educator Karen Graham has authored several plain language diabetes resources that attempt to address this need.

“In spite of cultural differences, educators and consumers everywhere share similar challenges and goals” she states.

Karen is keen to hear success stories and challenges in this field from diabetes educators across the globe and encourages you to contact her via her website at http://karengraham.ca/

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Diabetes Australia – Vic supermarket tours

As a complementary activity, your participants may benefit from a supermarket tour, as detailed on page 107 of the Life! participant workbook.

Organised by Diabetes Australia – Vic, supermarket tours are run in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas to help make shopping for food easier.

The tours run for two hours and are conducted by local dietitians who demonstrate how to accurately read and understand food labels as well as select healthy food alternatives.

The dietitians at Diabetes Australia – Vic will also be running three supermarket tours in the Melbourne CBD area throughout 2012.

Participants also receive a show bag with the Diabetes Australia Healthy Shopping Guide, information sheets and other useful information.

Cost: $15. Limited bookings are available for each tour.

Tours run from March – November each year and bookings are open.

For more information about the tours, or to make a booking, participants can contact the Diabetes InfoLine on 1300 136 588.

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Physical Activity Australia brand launched

January 18 saw Kinect Australia has launch its new name – Physical Activity Australia.
 
“For the last 30 years we have been in the business of physical activity through our national health promotion programs, and as the National Registration Body for Fitness/Exercise Professionals, and now our new name lets everyone know that,” Physical Activity Australia CEO, Ms Fiona K Bailey said.

“This name change supports our simple, but ambitious new vision; Every day, every Australian, physically active. We want to make it easier for Australians to be physically active. This includes changing the thinking, attitudes and way we operate as a society.

“We will continue to support and implement health promotion campaigns, especially our annual national campaign in October – The Walktober Challenge. There is no change to our national fitness and exercise registration scheme and program accreditation”.

Established in 1982, Physical Activity Australia is a national, self-funded independent not-for-profit organisation. Further information is available from www.physicalactivityaustralia.org.au

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Some recent articles of interest

1.  Perceiving Need for Lifestyle Counseling Findings from Finnish Individuals at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Available here

2.  Changing the odds. What do we learn from prevention studies targeted at people with a positive family history of type 2 diabetes? Available here

3.  Mindful eating strategies can help people who dine out frequently: study Available here

4.  How effective were lifestyle interventions in real-world settings that were modeled on The Diabetes Prevention Program? Available here

5.  Development of a community participation program for diabetes mellitus prevention in a primary care unit, Thailand Available here

6.  U.S. diabetes prevention program might avert 885,000 cases Available here

7.  Estimating the risk of developing type 2 diabetes: a comparison of several risk scores: the Cohorte Lausannoise study Available here

8.  DiAlert: a lifestyle education programme aimed at people with a positive family history of type 2 diabetes and overweight, study protocol of a randomised controlled trial Available here

9.  Predictors of lifestyle intervention outcome and dropout: the SLIM study Available here

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