Public Health

Initiatives

Ochre shares a broader view of health with the National Aboriginal Health Strategy - which states that "health encompasses the social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of the whole community". The Ochre Health Foundation has been proud to be involved in a variety of innovative programs delivering messages about illness prevention, healthy living, positive lifestyle choices and safety. These programs have included school-based programs, community forums and sessions delivered from Proclaimed Places.

Health Messages in Song

Music can be used to form a common ground for the delivery of healthy messages across communities with diverse backgrounds, and Ochre has often incorporated music and song writing into its public health education programs.

Ochre is proud to have worked closely with Tonchi McIntosh, a renowned Australian singer-songwriter, since 2002 delivering health education. Topics covered have included healthy eating, road safety, being sun smart, smoking, drugs and alcohol and sessions have been delivered in many remote NSW, WA and NT communities. These sessions usually mix entertainment provided by Tonchi with health education delivered by a health professional. They result in songs being written and performed by the children which are produced into an "album" which is distributed to the children and local radio stations and reaches a remarkable proportion of the community.

A sample of works from this schools project is located below. The project was undertaken on a small budget with extremely limited production time.

Answer The Phone
Bourke Boys
Don't Bindge
Safety Song
Zero Message

Maintenance in the Mulga

Another unique and successful program which Ochre was proud to be associated with was the "Maintenance in the Mulga" program - which delivered a mental health first aid program to remote communities during the recent drought. A team of health professionals and other supporters would set up a local meeting place. While one of our doctors assisted the "men" to prepare a meal for their partners they encouraged intimate discussions of how these men were being affected by the prolonged drought and provided coping mechanisms for depression and anxiety. Meanwhile the "women" were being pampered by masseuses, hairdressers and the like - again while health professionals facilitated discussion and education in group and individual sessions.