Minister to introduce Indigenous health check program
March 27, 2008The Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, will introduce a new Rural Health Education Foundation program about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicare Health Checks and supporting Lifescripts tools.
The April 8 program, Across the Lifespan: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks and Lifescripts, focuses on tools designed to address the relatively short life expectancy and high risks of chronic disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Minister will make a televised introduction to the hour-long program, which airs on the Foundation’s satellite network at 8.00pm (AEST) on Tuesday 8th April, with a repeat at 12.30pm on Friday 11th April.
“We welcome the Minister’s participation in this important broadcast,” said Dr Brian Bowring, Chairman of the Rural Health Education Foundation. “The government has committed to reducing the significant gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and this program exemplifies the Foundation’s support for that commitment.”
“We hope this will be the first of many broadcast contributions from Minister Roxon,” Dr Bowring said.
Across the Lifespan includes a panel discussion led by Dr Norman Swan, along with three filmed case studies illustrating the successful use and implementation of the Health Checks.