Hope William-Smith
The Jimmy Little Foundation (JLF) in Asquith has recently launched the JLF Crowd Funding Campaign in a bid to attract donations after funding from the Federal Department of Health ceased in June.
The JLF, founded in 2006, is currently a self and community funded organisation on the North Shore, working in Australia’s remote communities. In consultation with Elders, government and non-government agencies, health and community services and schools, their aim is the promote and ensure a healthy future for Indigenous Australians.
CEO Graham Bidstrup is calling on local community support to continue the work of the JLF and spread awareness of the dire health situation in outlying Indigenous areas. “The health and living conditions in many remote communities are still close to that of the third world. We now need help to continue our programs and lead Aborginal children into healthier lifestyle choices.”
The foundations has set out to improve health in Aboriginal communities through nutritional education workshops, cooking demonstrations and healthy lifestyle and advice. The JLF are the developers of the Thumbs UP! Schools Program, a postive and preventative health initiative which targets children between 5 and 16; the curriculum resource focuses on awareness of food education, partnerships and behavioural changes.
The JLF are the current administers of a wide variety of services, including the JLF mobile dialysis unit, which provides vital medical treatments allowing Indigenous communities receive life-sustaining dialysis in remote living locations. In addition to this, the Healthy Food Seal and Stores Program, an iniative which engages with customers of community stores to identify foods with nutritional and sutatinable approval for health living. More than 40 community stores run by the ALPA (Arnhem Land Progress Aborginal Corporation), are now supported by the JLF across NT, The Cape and Far North Queensland.
To find out more, or donate to the Jimmy Little Foundation, visit www.jlf.org.au
