By YASEMIN TALAT
THE Deadly Community Kitchen is bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from Wyndham and Hobsons Bay together to cook and socialise in a not so deadly way.
The group, whose name was inspired by the Deadly Tucker Cookbook, meet fortnightly on a Friday to learn about healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
The program is an initiative by South Western Melbourne Medicare Local along with Iramoo Community Centre and Wyndham City Council.
SWMML’s Aboriginal Outreach Worker Darleen Christensen said the Deadly Community Kitchen gave the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community a sense of identity and a place to come together.
“It’s a great opportunity for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to meet, have a yarn and learn about health at the same time,” Ms Christensen said.
“It’s not just about cooking – it’s about bringing together two communities that are separated by a highway,” she said.
Last week’s community kitchen workshop was particularly important as it coincided with National Diabetes Week.
Ms Christensen said many of the members who attend the community kitchen had chronic diseases, including diabetes.
“Type 2 diabetes is a really big issue among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in our area, and can be prevented through lifestyle change,” she said.
SWMML Chief Executive Officer Gaylene Coulton said the organisation was focused on helping community members access mainstream health services and other community services.
The Deadly Community Kitchen is part of the Federal Government’s ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues.
