Aboriginal Health Television is expected to be broadcasting in 100 primary care facilities across Australia by May this year
The first Indigenous health-focused television network has been launched in Bunbury, Western Australia by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt.
Aboriginal Health Television (AHTV) will play wellbeing messages for patients while they sit in waiting rooms at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
The health messages include topics on smoking, sexual health, skin conditions, and drug and alcohol treatment services.
The service starting in Bunbury is developed by Tonic Health Media and is expected to be broadcasting in 100 primary care facilities across Australia by May this year.
“We have evidence that this period in the waiting area is a time when people are most open to information which can improve their health and offer relevant questions to ask their health professional when they see them in the next few minutes,” Dr Norman Swan, co-founder of Tonic Health Media, said in a media statement.
Content for the network is being developed in partnership with producers who specialise in Indigenous content and local Aboriginal health services.
The collaborative approach hopes to ensure the material is culturally relevant and interesting for patients.
AHTV plays the tagline “Live healthy. Live long. Live strong,” with the hope that increased awareness will improve overall health outcomes in First Nations people.
The service will run as a free, fully maintained service as part of a federal government commitment in July last year to provide $3.4 million over three years.
“AHTV not only offers culturally relevant content, but it gives a voice to every community. By having the information they need, it will enable our people to consciously make the right choices, which in turn will lead to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Jake Thompson, from the Wiradjuri nation, said.
AHTV also plans to use social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to extend the reach of health messages and promote further engagement.
