| Project Objectives / Summary:
The Footy Fitness project was conducted in Tennant Creek in 2000/01. The central purpose of the study was to use an innovative health promotion strategy linked to sport to target an at risk minority group for health screening and education. The target group was young men, particularly Aboriginal men, who:
- Avoid accessing health care
- Are difficult to target for screening, education and treatment,
- Demonstrate a high rate of chronic disease and their risk factors
- Have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death associated with sport.
Project Collaboration:
- ACAC - Anyinginyi Congress Aboriginal Corporation
- Barkly Australian Football League
- Western Diagnostic Pathology - Alice Springs
- IMVS in Adelaide
Project Outcomes:
The emphasis in this project was not so much in relation to the actual health assessment results of individuals but more so to the efficacy and usefulness of the methods used to engage young Aboriginal men.
Valuable experience was gained in relation to issues such as using "champions" and peers to encourage others to participate, how to handle follow up issues after the inital tests, the need for care in seeking answers to questions relating to matters such as family history, use of alcohol and other drugs, and heart matters.
The project was supported strongly by the board of Directors of the Anyinginyi Congress and the original project concept arose from community concerns after the death of an Indigenous footballer during a game.
A disappointment from the project was the difficulty incurred in attracting study participants to the clinic for follow-up action. This highlights the poor health service utilisation by young Aboriginal men. Population mobility was also an issue noted.
Disseminating Project Information:
An essential part of this project was feedback of findings to the participants, community members, and relevant health professionals. A Microsoft Power Point presentation outlining the project aims, methodology and results was developed and presented to various forums. The exact content of the presentation was varied depending on the audience. Opportunities for presentation of the work included:
1. Presentation to Football teams at Semi-Finals Day
2. The Central Australian Remote Practitioners Association Conference, Alice Springs, November 2000
3. The Barkly Medical Practitioners Continuing Medical Education (CME) Meeting, Tennant Creek, August 2001
4. Anyinginyi Congress Board of Directors Meeting, September 2001 5. The Anyinginyi Congress Clinical Team Meeting, September 2001
Edited copies of the Final Project Report were sent to the following organisations:
1. Coaches of all Football teams
2. Management of Barkly Australian Football League
3. Anyinginyi Congress Board of Directors
4. Anyinginyi Congress General Manager
5. Anyinginyi Congress Clinic
6. Anyinginyi Congress Sports and Recreation
7. Tennant Creek Hospital Library
8. The Central Australian Division of Primary Health Care
9. Australian Divisions of General Practice
In addition, descriptions of the Project have been published in the Medical Observer and CARPA Newsletter journals. An academic report of the Project's findings is in preparation, and expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Lessons / Assessment:
The project adopted an innovative approach to tackling the issue of health of young Aboriginal men. By and large it was successful in attracting the local population and therefore was a successful health promotion strategy. It represents value for money. The method used is a simple concept and is transferable.
Unfortunately, due to the unavailability of continued funding, work on this activity has been suspended.
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