The Five Big Ideas Program for preschools teaches young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 3-5 years about personal hygiene, basic health care and simple nutrition. The program is culturally appropriate and encased in local Aboriginal culture with the purpose of not only educating, but also healing. It is formed by collaboration with preschools and specialists from Gunawirra.
Aboriginal people have significantly poorer health outcomes across the whole life-cycle compared with non-Aboriginal Australians. It is crucial to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to empower future generations to live healthy and prosperous lives.
9 years
lower life expectancy for Aboriginal people compared to non-Aboriginal Australians
2x
higher child mortality rate for Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal Australians
1.6x
more likely for an Aboriginal child to be obese compared to a non-Aboriginal child
Research and Evaluation
The Five Big Ideas Program has been formally evaluated by the Health Research Unit at University of Western Sydney by Professor Jane Usher. Access the Five Big Ideas Research Paper.
In addition, we regularly undertake qualitative research using questionnaires for teachers and parents on changes seen in children’s behaviour before and after the program. Teachers at the preschool evaluate the program on a weekly basis and on completion engage in “informal” interviews with the mothers of the children.
