Hype Signature event details
- Date: Thursday 16 September
- Time: 5.00- approx 8.30pm
- Location: Logan campus, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD
Parking will be FREE for guests attending. - Free shuttle buses: running between Loganlea train station and Logan campus, and Hyperdome bus interchange, bus stop 'D'
Service running from 3.00pm and 9.00pm
Students deliver multicultural health project
A project to help migrants from African and Pacific Island nations adapt to their new life in Australia has provided public health students Rebecca Stoneman and Alice Walker with a rich learning experience.
The two students spent about six months developing resources on physical activity and nutrition for new migrants in the Logan area.
The resources, including a DVD and booklets, have been translated into six languages – Swahili, Arabic, Kirundi, Amharic, French and Samoan.
Rebecca said the project was one of many aimed at meeting the health needs of an increasingly multicultural community.
“As part of our studies, we had to do a project in the community or workplace. Griffith had won the tender for this project on behalf of the Logan-Beaudesert Health Coalition and I was particularly interested in some real-life experience in nutrition,” Rebecca said.
Topics such as food safety and school lunches were identified as useful information for recently settled migrants.
“These people face language barriers when shopping or cooking. Even simple information can help, such as knowing that schools don’t have cooking facilities for children to cook their own lunches,” she said.
Input from migrant settlement workers at agencies such as Multilink Community Services and A.C.C.E.S. Services ensured the script for the DVD was relevant and practical.
“It’s important that this type of resource is developed from the grass roots up,” Rebecca said.
Rebecca said the project was a great opportunity to learn ‘on the job’ and apply knowledge and energy to a real community need.
“We’ve had to work with so many people and agencies including graphic designers, a film crew and translators. It’s been an invaluable learning process on how to develop health promotion resources.”
Health promotion
Vidya Gopinath always knew she wanted to work in public health, even while working as a nutritionist in a pharmacy. So once she met with course coordinators at Griffith University’s School of Public Health she was readily won over to study for the Master of Public Health, from which she graduated in 2008.
“I really needed lecturers who were approachable and a degree that was hands-on. The subjects and electives offered suited my needs, and it seemed a very nice environment that offered me the flexibility to work and study full-time,” Vidya said.
As a Health Promotion Officer in Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion with Queensland Health, where she has worked for the past three years, Vidya believes that her degree has given her the foundation that is essential to reach her ambition of working with the World Health Organization one day.