The Heart Research Institute (HRI) and the Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and Education at HRI have hosted a special community volunteer day to deliver essential heart health information and resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
On Friday 27 September, a date chosen to mark World Heart Day that occurs the next day, a team of volunteers and staff gathered at HRI’s headquarters in Newtown, Sydney, and successfully prepared and packed approximately 4,500 essential care packages.
The goal for the “Your Heart Health is in Your Hands” volunteer day was to assemble the heart health packs, which will be distributed to 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country where they are needed most.
Among the volunteers in attendance were HRI staff, supporters and partners, including staff from SBS, Canva and Cox Purtell to name a few. Local MP for Newtown Jenny Leong came along to assist with packing the kits and to lend her support to this important initiative.
The care packs included a range of items that will help empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to take their heart health ‘into their own hands’ – and take one step closer to bridging the gap.
This included a bottle of Yaru water, Australia’s first Indigenous water company and a very generous sponsor of the event, along with a pedometer, tape measure, stress ball, exercise band, hand sanitiser, protein bar and a heart health booklet.
“With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people twice as likely to die from cardiovascular diseases like heart disease, heart attack and stroke, it is vital we raise awareness and close the gap when it comes to health and life expectancy,” said Cultural Lead of the Djurali Centre, Assoc Prof Uncle Boe Rambaldini.
“My people have the worst health outcomes on this continent. There was a time when we were the healthiest people.”
HRI would like to thank the amazing team of staff and volunteers who worked throughout the day to help us pack almost 5,000 kits. You have helped us make a real difference.
Top image: Assoc Prof Uncle Boe Rambaldini, Member for Newtown Jenny Leong and Uncle Joe Perry
