NT body ALPA to lead the federal Government’s initiative, to build a remote Nutrition Workforce

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has signed an agreement with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) to lead the federal Government’s initiative, to build a Nutrition Workforce in remote First Nations communities.

Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) will lead the federal Government’s initiative, to build a Nutrition Workforce in remote First Nations communities. Picture: Getty Images

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has signed an agreement with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) to lead the federal Government’s initiative, to build a Nutrition Workforce in remote First Nations communities.

The initiative will see the training and engagement of more than 100 locally employed staff in remote stores.

Nutrition Workforce staff will play an important role in communities, embedded in remote stores to provide culturally appropriate health promotion and nutrition messaging.

In local languages, they will support customers to make more informed and health-conscious food choices and boost consumption of healthy food.

This includes working with customers to boost understanding of nutritional labels, improve stores layout and provide demonstrations on meal preparation.

Nutrition Workforce staff will play an important role in communities, embedded in remote stores to provide culturally appropriate health promotion and nutrition messaging.

Twenty one remote positions will begin this financial year, and the Nutrition Workforce will grow to 106 over the following two years.

The positions will be filled by First Nations community members who will undertake tailored training and be supported by qualified nutritionists.

The Nutrition Workforce will begin supporting customers at ALPA stores in Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Minjilang and Ramingining in the Northern Territory as well as stores in Cape York and the Torres Strait, and other community owned stores across remote Australia.

The Nutrition Workforce is part of the Albanese Government’s program to improve Food Security in remote First Nations communities.

The program also includes the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme, which is reducing the price of 30 essential items in remote stores that have signed up to a new National Code of Practice.

The Nutrition Workforce aligns with outcomes under the National Agreement on Closing The Gap including that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives, and strong economic participation and development of First Nations people and their communities.