Nutrition website launched for indigenous kids
The Jimmy Little Foundation has launched a new interactive website called Thumbs Up! to promote healthy eating to indigenous children in the Northern Territory.
The website, funded by Medicines Australia and supported by the Northern Territory Government, aims to encourage indigenous children to make healthy food choices and improve nutrition.
The website includes a teacher section outlining lesson plans which align with the Northern Territory and draft national curriculum, particularly through the Remote Schools Curriculum and Assessment Materials.
Jimmy Little Foundation chief executive Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup said the website would provide vital health and wellbeing information for schoolchildren in their early formative years.
“We hope that the knowledge they gain from this website might reduce their chances of contracting chronic diseases later in life,” Mr Bidstrup said.
“With no geographic boundaries, teachers and young people in classrooms across Australia can go online to learn more about how to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
“This online teaching aid has been developed in partnership with the NT Department of Education. It is fun and interactive and delivers health and nutrition messages from Australian indigenous icon Uncle Jimmy Little and his Thumbs Up! team.
“It’s a really simple message: Good Tucker – Long Life.”
Medicines Australia chairman Will Delaat said the Australian medicines industry was committed to helping improve indigenous health.
This is a response to the Federal Government’s call for assistance in ‘closing the gap’,” Mr Delaat said.
“Medicines Australia is proud of our contribution that assists in advancing improvements in indigenous health.”
The launch of the website at Milner Primary School in Darwin this week was attended by The Hon Dr Chris Burns, Northern Territory Minister for Education and Training.
The Thumbs Up! website is part of a broader Jimmy Little Foundation healthy eating program funded by Medicines Australia.
The Thumbs Up! website is available at: http://www.thumbsup.org.au/
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Contact Person:
Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au