Cook + Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Community Strengthening
Thank You From The Aborginal Medical Service
Monday, 10th of August 2009
The Body Fitness Program is a partnership between the Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative Limited and the YMCA at the Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre. The purpose of this program is to create opportunities for young people to learn fundamental values towards living a healthy lifestyle.
The Body Fitness Program has been ongoing since December 2008 and is conducted twice a week on Monday and Friday. The hourly afternoon sessions also include a healthy light snack to promote the need for healthy eating.
Currently there are 12 young people who participate in the Body Fitness Program. The tangible outcomes of this program include teens losing weight; having more self esteem and confidence; learning to work together as a team as well as learning about their bodies during this important stage of their maturation.
The Body Fitness Program demonstrates an excellent working relationship between the Aboriginal Medical Service and the YMCA in the joint effort to promote the need for young people to be actively involved in participation of sport, exercise and good eating. It also enables taking Aboriginal youth outside of their immediate comfort zone in their psychological development. From a cultural perspective it also allows these young people to be involved in the continuing tradition of sport as a key aspect of Aboriginal Community life. It is considered that the sustaining of this program enhances the efforts to take a further step towards closing the gap in Aboriginal people's ill health in comparison to their non-Aboriginal counterparts.
In short, it is a very successful initiative and its ongoing reali ty is seriously recommended. The use of the excellent facility; the professionalism of the Centre's staff and the obvious sense of acceptance and feeling welcomed are factors that are considered important catalysts in achieving these positive outcomes and achievements.
Once again thank you.
Yours sincerely.
Hectare Terare. Public Health Coordinator
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