Obesity: A Heavy Burden highlights the latest healthy lifestyle community-based prevention and intervention strategies.  The hour-long program also outlines evidence-based interventions in weight management and maintenance.

A major problem that’s difficult to treat

“The World Health Organisation describes the increase in overweight and obesity as a global epidemic,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “In Australia, 68% of adult men and 55% of adult women are considered overweight or obese.”

“Not only is obesity a major health problem, it’s also complex and difficult to treat,” says Mr Perlgut.  “This new program gives rural and remote health practitioners the knowledge and skills they need to assist people to prevent weight gain, to lose weight, and then to maintain their weight loss.”

Presented by an expert panel

The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. 

The panel of expert health practitioners features: Dr Lilian Kow, Bariatric Surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia; Ms Melanie McGrice, an Accredited Dietitian from Health Kick Nutrition & Dietetics in Melbourne; Dr John Pearson, a General Practitioner from Tamworth in NSW; and Professor Boyd Swinburn, Alfred Deakin Professor of Population Health and Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University in Melbourne.

Program funding

Obesity: A Heavy Burden is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Broadcast details

Obesity: A Heavy Burden will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday September 28th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday October 1st.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming

DVD copies of this program will be available after the broadcast via our website.  The program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

About obesity in Australia


Australia is now one of the fattest developed nations.  Although overweight and obesity are a problem in all population groups, people living in rural and remote areas, the socio-economically disadvantaged, Indigenous Australians and some ethnic minorities are more vulnerable.

Studies show a clear relationship between excessive body weight and increased mortality and morbidity.  Some of the health problems associated with obesity include musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.  Obesity is responsible for more than half of the burden of disease caused by type 2 diabetes. Being obese can affect people’s quality of life, their sense of wellbeing and their ability to earn a living.

More information

For more information about the Obesity: A Heavy Burden program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary, or contact the Foundation.

Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma? covers the differential diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults who suffer breathlessness.

The hour-long program, which premiered on the Foundation’s satellite network in September 2008, also presents an interrelated discussion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), framed by clinical case studies.

Diagnostic complexity and under-reporting addressed

“This well-received program has already enabled many health professionals to recognise asthma and COPD in older adults, and identify appropriate management strategies, including the role of spirometry and vaccination,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “Almost a third of elderly people with asthma are not identified as such by their doctors, and this program has proven to be helpful in addressing that statistic by exploring the diagnostic complexity associated with the condition.”

“Breathlessness in the Older Adult is one of several high quality respiratory programs that have emerged from the Foundation’s long-standing partnership with the National Asthma Council Australia, which continued in 2009 with the production of A is for Asthma: Managing Asthma in Primary School Kids,” says Mr Perlgut.

Case studies and an expert panel

Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma?  features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.

The expert panel includes: Associate Professor Christine McDonald, Respiratory Physician at Melbourne’s Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre; Dr Gary Kilov, General Practitioner at Melbourne’s Clarinda Clinic; Ms Toni Riley, a Community Pharmacist from Bendigo in Victoria; and Ms Vanessa McDonald, Respiratory CNC at Hunter New England Health in Newcastle, NSW.

Breathlessness in the Older Adult also features clinical case studies which frame the discussion and help to highlight the importance of distinguishing between asthma and COPD, even when they co-exist.

Program funding

Breathlessness in the Older Adult is produced with funding from the National Asthma Council Australia and in turn the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing.

Broadcast details

Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma?  will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday September 14th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday September 17th.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming

DVD copies of this program are available for purchase via our website.  The program is also available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

Prevalence of asthma and COPD increases with age

Older adults may consider their breathlessness to be a frustrating but natural consequence of ageing, unaware that respiratory disease might be the cause. Yet the prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) both increase with age. The risk of dying from asthma also increases with age, and acute asthma attacks are more rapidly fatal in older adults.

More information

For more information on Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma? - including presenter details, access instructions and associated educational resources - refer to the program summary or contact the Foundation.

Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast outlines the impact of secondary breast cancer, covering recent developments in treatment and exploring the psychosocial and supportive care needs of women and their families.

The hour-long program also considers a number of new resources for women with secondary breast cancer and their families, developed by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).

Important collaboration between Foundation and NBOCC
“Secondary breast cancer affects many Australian women in rural and remote areas, where appropriate health resources can be scarce,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “This latest collaboration with NBOCC has resulted in a program that helps to define the role of general practitioners and nurses as part of the multidisciplinary team caring for a woman with secondary breast cancer, and also defines the role of palliative care in treating these patients.”

“There are a variety of challenges for a woman and her healthcare team in managing secondary breast cancer,” says Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, who introduces the program.  “This new broadcast will enable health professionals to identify clinical presentations of secondary breast cancer, and outline the management goals and treatments available for women diagnosed with the disease.”

Program features expert panel discussion
The pre-recorded program features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. 

The expert panel includes: Dr Tony Hobbs, a General Practitioner from Cootamundra in NSW; Professor Jane Ingham, Professor of Palliative Care at St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of NSW, in Sydney; Ms Chris Keogh, a Palliative Care Nurse from Young in NSW; Associate Professor Chris Milross, Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney; and Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken, Director of Medical Oncology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney.

Program funding
Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast is a project of the Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Program, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre.

Broadcast details
Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday August 31st at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday September 3rd.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming
After the initial broadcast, this program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

About secondary breast cancer
Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer, is breast cancer which has spread to distant sites in the body such as the bone, liver or brain.  Most women who present with secondary breast cancer will have already been diagnosed with and treated for early breast cancer, although this will be the first presentation for some.

The prognosis of secondary breast cancer is largely dependent on the site of the metastasis, the disease-free interval and the hormone receptor status of the tumour.

More information
For more information about the Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.

The Foundation’s preliminary schedule of accredited satellite television broadcasts for the period August to December 2010 also includes encore screenings of popular programs on breathlessness in older adults and autism.

August to December broadcast highlights

The Foundation’s spring schedule begins in late August with two new programs: Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults (August 24) and Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast (August 31).

September broadcasts include the premiere of Obesity: A Heavy Burden (September 28) and a repeat of the popular 2008 program Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma? (September 14).

The Foundation’s October schedule features the first screening of Skin Cancer: Keeping it in Check (October 26) and an encore screening of Helping Children With Autism (October 12).

Debuting in November are new programs Doctors and Mental Health (November 9) and Difficult Consultations (November 23).

The Foundation’s preliminary broadcast schedule for December 2010 includes the premiere of a new program on trauma (December 7).

Spring schedule covers a variety of health issues

“The Foundation has set out to provide distance education opportunities for a wide range of Australian health professionals over the next four months offers,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “The preliminary schedule for our satellite broadcasts throughout spring 2010 covers a diverse spectrum of important health issues, and includes two programs focusing on the wellbeing of health workers.”

Multiple viewing options

The late 2010 programs will be broadcast across the Foundation’s national satellite viewing network, usually live on a Tuesday evening, with repeats during the daytime on the following Friday.

After the initial broadcast, each program will be available free on the Foundation’s website for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.  DVD copies of each program can be purchased via our website - and in some cases are available free of charge for health professionals.

More information

Broadcast times and other program details are available on the Foundation’s upcoming programs page.  To find a satellite viewing site near you, go to our viewing sites page.

For other information about the Foundation’s programs and activities, please browse our website or contact the Foundation.

Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults identifies key resources that are available and explores the experience of consumers affected by depression.

The hour-long program also examines the draft Clinical Practice Guidelines: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults, funded and developed by beyondblue.

Third in four-program series with beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults is the third of four programs which the Rural Health Education Foundation will co-produce this year with beyondblue: the national depression initiative.  The first program in the series, about depression and anxiety in men with prostate cancer, premiered on Tuesday May 18th, and the second, about caring for carers, premiered on Tuesday June 29th. The final program, about depression and health professionals, will premiere on Tuesday November 9th.

This new series builds on an already strong partnership between the Foundation and beyondblue. The two organisations have co-produced a number of successful educational television programs over the past five years, including Another Shade of Blue: Depression in Older Australians (2007), Postnatal Depression (2006) and Out of the Blue: Managing Depression (2005).

Bridging the gap between identification and treatment
“The National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing has found that, even when young people with depression are identified, many still receive no treatment,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “This new program helps rural health practitioners to overcome some of the obstacles which deny young people with depression, anxiety and related disorders the opportunity to receive appropriate care.”

“Early detection and treatment is essential in improving long-term  outcomes for the 160,000 Australians aged 16-24 who are living with depression,” says Leonie Young, CEO of beyondblue.  “This new program enables health professionals to identify the available resources that will assist patients and their families affected by depression, and to propose care and management options based on an understanding of the consumer experience.”

Program features expert panel
discussion
The program features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. 
The expert panel features: Dr Chris Davey, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Orygen Youth Health in Parkville, VIC; Dr Brian Graetz, a Psychologist & Program Director at beyondblue, VIC; Mr Jeremy Mann, a Youthbeyondblue ambassador from Jerrabomberra, NSW; and Dr Ross Wilson, a General Practitioner from Bathurst, NSW.

Program funding
Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults is funded by beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

Broadcast details
Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday August 24th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday August 27th.

Also available via webstreaming
After the initial broadcast, this program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

About depression in young Australians

Adolescence and young adulthood is a crucial time of change where onset of depression and other mental health disorders are common. People who experience depression often find it difficult to function day-to-day and depression has serious effects on physical and mental health.
Early detection and treatment is essential in reducing the risk of ongoing mental health disorders.

More information
For more information about the Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.

A special July 2010 edition of the respected publication featured Dr Calma, the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, among a list of 50 people who have “the greatest influence over general practice in Australia today”.

A positive influence on Indigenous life expectancy

Dr Calma’s inclusion in the list was due to his commitment to “close the gap on Indigenous health inequality”: Dr Calma was the founding chair of the Close the Gap Steering Committee, one of the key forces behind COAG’s historic 2008 commitment to bring Indigenous life expectancy in line with that of other Australians within a generation, and he is continuing his advocacy through his recent appointment as the head of a Closing the Gap initiative to tackle the high rates of smoking by Indigenous people.

“I’m honoured to be included in a list featuring so many distinguished and committed Australians,” said Dr Calma.  “And I’m grateful for the added prominence that my nomination in Australian Doctor will give to my work with the Foundation, and with other organisations, on improving Indigenous health outcomes.”

Foundation program contributors also listed

Eleven other people on the medical magazine’s list of influential people - almost a quarter of those named - have appeared in educational television programs produced by the Rural Health Education Foundation in recent years:

• Dr Tony Hobbs (appeared in programs 1009b & 915)
• Dr Chris Mitchell (programs 1007, 605, 601 & 416)
• Dr Nola Maxfield (programs 919 & 909)
• Prof Mark Harris (programs 913a, 913b & 803)
• Dr Liz Marles (programs 910a & 910b)
• Prof Ian Frazer (program 604)
• Prof Ian Hickie (programs 505, 406, 307, 95 & 52)
• Prof Ian Olver (program 603)
• Prof Chris Del Mar (program 415)
• The Hon Tony Abbott (program 320)
• Dr Simon Willcock (program 203)

Tom Calma’s role with the Foundation

Tom Calma was appointed Patron of the Rural Health Education Foundation in April 2010.  As Patron, he lends his support and assistance to further the mission of the Foundation in redressing the health inequality in rural and remote Australia.  Dr Calma’s extensive experience in public administration, policy development, education and training provides the Foundation with tremendous scope to enhance its services and their delivery.

Dr Calma is an Aboriginal elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group whose traditional lands are south west of Darwin and on the Coburg Peninsula in the Northern Territory, respectively.  He has been involved in Indigenous affairs at a local, community, state, territory, national and international level and worked in the public sector for 38 years.

A complete biography of Tom Calma is available in the “About Us” section of the Foundation’s website.

Acne Vulgaris: Not Just Skin Deep explores the benefits of antibiotics, hormonal agents, combination treatments, alternative therapies and laser therapy in the treatment of the condition, which can affect up to 85% of the population.

The live, hour-long program covers the potential psychological effects of acne and discusses the importance of progressive management plans in avoiding permanent scarring.

Preventing physical and emotional scarring

“For many people, acne is a transient part of growing up, but for some the condition may persist for years or even decades,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “Those who are severely affected can suffer physical scarring, pain, anxiety and depression, and if they live in a rural or remote area they may have difficulty accessing specialist services.”

“This new program assists health professionals to identify the various types of acne, determine the level of severity, and consider appropriate treatment options and lifestyle modifications that are available to the patient.”

Presented by an expert panel


The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. 

The panel of expert health practitioners features: Mr John Bell, a Pharmacist & Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia; Mrs Suzie Hoitink, a Registered Nurse & Founder of the Clear Complexions Clinics; Dr Parker Magin, a General Practitioner & Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, NSW; Dr Neil Mann, Professor of Human Nutrition at RMIT, VIC; and Dr John Sullivan, a Consultant Dermatologist & Director of Research at the Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia in Darlinghurst, NSW.

Program funding

Acne Vulgaris: Not Just Skin Deep is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Broadcast details

Acne Vulgaris: Not Just Skin Deep will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday August  10th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday August 13th.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming

DVD copies of this program will be available after the broadcast via our website. The program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

About acne vulgaris


Although acne is a common dermatological disorder affecting as many as 85% of the population, it remains an issue fraught with psychological, emotional and physical effects.  Acne affects 95-100% of adolescent boys and 83-85% of adolescent girls aged 16-17 years, and may also afflict neonates, the elderly, and mature women.  Those who are severely affected frequently encounter emotional debilitation similar to that of many chronic diseases.

The successful management and treatment of acne vulgaris is heavily reliant on the pattern of the condition, the relative severity and distribution, as well as social circumstances. A progressive management plan is essential to avoid later permanent scarring.

More information

For more information about the Acne Vulgaris: Not Just Skin Deep program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary, or contact the Foundation.

DCIS: Is it cancer, doctor?, an hour-long interactive simulcast on Tuesday July 27th, covers the diagnosis of DCIS, the implications and impact for women diagnosed with DCIS
, and treatment options and follow-up care.  This simulcast - a live satellite broadcast and simultaneous interactive webcast - will enable viewers to submit questions to the expert panel while the program discussion unfolds.

Secondary breast cancer: finding breast cancer outside the breast, an hour-long program airing on Tuesday August 31st, considers some of the challenges in management of secondary breast cancer, recent developments in treatment, and the psychosocial and supportive care needs of women and their families.

Latest of many collaborations between Foundation and NBOCC

“Since breast cancer affects so many Australian women, these two upcoming programs should provide practical assistance to a broad audience,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut.  “Our long collaborative relationship with the NBOCC has produced many high-quality educational resources over the years, and we’re particularly proud of these latest two, especially the opportunity that the DCIS simulcast provides for in-program viewer participation.”

“Our working relationship with the Foundation is a valued part of our efforts to improve outcomes in breast and ovarian cancer by providing evidence-based information to guide the work of rural health professionals,” says Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre.  “I’m delighted that these new broadcasts will enable the latest advances in the management of  secondary breast cancer and DCIS to be widely disseminated to rural health professionals who often face difficulties accessing traditional models of continuing education.”

Programs feature expert panel
 discussion

Both programs will feature a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National. 

The panel for DCIS: Is it Cancer, Doctor? will include: Associate Professor Brendon Coventry, Discipline of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Jenny May, Rural GP Academic, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW; Ms Lee Millard-Newton, Breast Care Nurse, North Coast Area Health Service, Coffs Harbour, NSW; Associate Professor Chris Milross, Head, Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW; and Associate Professor Warwick Lee, State Radiologist, Breastscreen NSW.

Program funding

Both of these educational television programs are projects of the Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Program, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre.

Broadcast details

DCIS: Is it Cancer, Doctor? will be simulcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday July 27th at 8.00pm (AEST), with broadcast repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday July 30th.

Secondary Breast Cancer: Finding Breast Cancer Outside the Breast will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday August 31st at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday September 3rd.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming

DVD copies of these programs will be available via the Foundation’s website after the initial simulcast/broadcast. Both programs will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.

About DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an abnormal proliferation of cells confined within the mammary ducts. Approximately 1,600 women are diagnosed with DCIS in Australia each year. The aim of treating DCIS is to reduce the risk of developing invasive breast cancer. A recent NBOCC study found that women diagnosed with DCIS were about four times more likely to develop invasive breast cancer compared with women of similar age in Australia.

About secondary breast cancer


Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer, is breast cancer which has spread to distant sites in the body such as the bone, liver or brain.  Most women who present with secondary breast cancer will have already been diagnosed with and treated for early breast cancer, although this will be the first presentation for some.

More information

For more information about these and other upcoming Foundation programs - including presenter details and associated educational resources - visit our upcoming programs web page, or contact the Foundation.

T2DM: Diabetes and Indigenous Australians, an hour-long panel discussion which premiered on the Foundation’s satellite network in November 2009, will be broadcast on NITV on Tuesday July 27th.

The program, which is one of four in the Foundation’s T2DM Guideline Series, features two filmed case studies and explores the question of how diabetes can be prevented in Indigenous communities, along with the issues of diet, obesity, physical activity, poor living conditions and low socioeconomic status.

Foundation welcomes wider exposure

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have the fourth highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the world, which is four times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Australians,” says Don Perlgut, CEO of the Rural Health Education Foundation.  “So we welcome the additional exposure our program will receive, particularly among Indigenous Australians and the health professionals who serve them, from the upcoming NITV broadcast.”

“An important new audience will now have access to a program, which examines evidence-based approaches to the management of diabetes, hypoglycaemic control and diabetes-related complications among Indigenous Australians.”

NITV broadcast details

T2DM: Diabetes and Indigenous Australians (60 mins) - Tuesday July 27th at 12.30pm.  The NITV website has details for how to access NITV.

Program features expert panel discussion

The program is introduced by the Hon Warren Snowdon, MP, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, and features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.

The panel includes: Ms Sumaria Corpus, a Diabetes Educator from Royal Darwin Hospital, NT; Ms Bernadette Heenan, a Credentialled Diabetes Educator and Registered Nurse from the Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice in Cairns, QLD; Dr Pat Phillips, Senior Director Endocrinology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, SA; and Dr Rob Way, a General Practitioner from Katungul Aboriginal Medical Service in Narooma, NSW.

Program funding

T2DM: Diabetes and Indigenous Australians and distribution of the T2DM Guideline Series was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Also available on DVD and via web-streaming

This program can be ordered from our website on a four-disc DVD set which also features the other three programs in the T2DM Guideline Series.  The program is also available free for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.   Go to the program page T2DM: Diabetes and Indigenous Australians for details.

About diabetes in Indigenous communities

It is estimated that between 10 and 30 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes represents a major public health problem for Indigenous Australians, with a much earlier age of onset and the risk of developing diabetes related complications resulting in a significant burden of disease in terms of mortality, hospitalisations and a range of financial and human costs.

The death rate in Indigenous communities is believed to be up to 17 times higher than that of non-Indigenous Australians, mainly due to high levels of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease associated with diabetes.  Complications include a higher risk of heart attack or stroke, eye disease, kidney disease and nerve damage, which may result in traumatic injury, infection and possible limb amputation.

About National Indigenous Television (NITV)

In 2007, with support from the Australian Government, National Indigenous Television (NITV) established its head office in Alice Springs and its production office in Sydney, and is available through Foxtel, Austar and other networks.

NITV acquires and commissions a range of programming which reflects the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities.  It supports locally produced content, and helps to further open up career paths for Indigenous people in the industry.

More information

For more information about T2DM: Diabetes and Indigenous Australians - including details of the case studies, presenters and associated educational resources - go to the program summary page and follow the links, or contact the Foundation.