The Central Australia Health Service has created resources to promote eating, drinking and swallowing safely. The videos and posters were produced by Alice Springs Hospital Speech Pathology Department, with the help of the Aboriginal Health Innovation Sponsorship Fund 2017.

Around one million Australians have swallowing difficulties however, not everyone understands this problem and how to manage it safely.

The resources which include posters, flyers and short videos, provide strategies to prevent choking and aspiration in children and adults.

The project was developed by Speech Pathologists Nanthini Kanthan and Donna Akbari, in collaboration with Alice Springs Hospital Aboriginal Liaison Officers, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and the NPY Women’s Council and was funded through the Aboriginal Health Innovation Sponsorship Fund as a culturally appropriate health education tool to address dysphagia (swallowing difficulty).

The short videos are in English and have been translated into 5 local languages; Anmatjere, Pitjantjatjara, Luritja, Walpiri, and Western Arrernte.

ASH Speech Pathology will be using these resources on iPads for patient education on the wards and all health staff can download the posters and flyers from the intranet for their patients.

To watch the videos visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFeLDUnFxvA&list=PLvzNtphHxtRxWfEfpWbBcBsTf_STiOJLR

Media Contact Nicole Ogilvie 0415 135 503