The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has been providing comprehensive Aboriginal primary health care to individuals, families and communities – including many of the 2013 Australian team – for more than 40 years.
NACCHO recently released the Investing in Healthy Futures for Generational Change Plan 2013-2030, with one of its key aims to encourage Aboriginal children to participate in sport.
So it was fitting NACCHO partnered with the first all-indigenous team to represent Australia abroad in 145 years.
On the eve of the Australian team's International Rules Series against Ireland, NACCHO joined with the All-Stars at their final training session in Melbourne to launch Australia's first Aboriginal health app.
NACCHO chairperson Justin Mohamed said it was fitting to launch the health app in front of 25 of the fittest Aboriginals in Australia.
"Our app promotes the sports healthy futures program that will give Aboriginal youth the opportunity to improve their overall health and wellbeing through active participation in sports," Mr Mohamed said.
"Research shows that if a young person is happy and healthy they will be able to get the most out of their education, build their confidence and their self-belief and hopefully one day become a well-educated indigenous All-Star in the sport or employment of their choosing."
Already there have been more than 1000 downloads of the NACCHO app.
Mr Mohamed is encouraging all 150 NACCHO members and stakeholders to promote the app to their 5000 staff and more than 100,000 clients, so that Aboriginal health can be put back in Aboriginal hands.
The "NACCHO app" is free from the App Store and Google Play.
The app allows users to find the location and telephone number of their nearest Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service and online telephone assistance for 24 health categories.
Through the app, NACCHO is also inviting all sports supporters to donate to its community-based sports program, a program that aims to supply more than 1000 footballs, netballs, soccer balls and basketballs to Aboriginal community clubs over the next 12 months.
