Strait from the Heart

Dr Alyse Davies, University of the Sunshine Coast

First Nations CVD Grant

Years funded: 2025 - 2028

Co-designing a culturally safe food, nutrition and physical activity program

Aims

1. To co-design a 12 month, culturally relevant, sustainable, nutrition and physical activity program ‘Strait from the Heart’ with First Nation’s communities on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland (QLD), and their community health service the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (NCACCH)
2. To pilot ‘Strait from the Heart’ to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors for First Nations people and communities
3. To promote and advocate for a model of sustainability.

‘Strait from the Heart’ will be co-designed to ensure a holistic, culturally appropriate nutrition and physical activity program inclusive of family members to respect the bonds, relationships and kinship networks. While the program will be inclusive of all family members, only those aged over 15 years will participate in the health assessments, linked to the annual Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) item #715 which promotes overall health screening. Community events will be held to increase uptake of health assessments and community staff will champion the program.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in preventive health research

‘Strait from the Heart’ will include Indigenous research paradigms, be strengths-based in the approach and have strong governance with First Nations researchers, North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (NCACCH), First Nations community research governance group, Queensland Health, the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (The University of Sydney) and Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program. We will design this research project following the principles articulated by the CREATE methods group in their report and tool. A First Nations research assistant (appointed through NCACCH, capacity stipend) and First Nations Dietitian (Burgess) will be employed as well as an opportunity for a First Nations PhD candidate (RTP scholarship).

This work will begin to address gaps by providing holistic health programs for the prevention of CVD, leading to improvements in health, social, cultural, emotional well-being for First Nations people and communities. The impact of Strait from the Heart will translate to better CVD outcomes for First Nations people and communities.