Good Start Program

Our program is part of a statewide plan aimed to promote health and prevent chronic diseases in Maori and Pacific Islander families.

The Good Start Program is a service for Maori and Pacific Islanders by Maori and Pacific Islanders. We work with our communities to help make healthy choices.

Working with families

We work with children and their families to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence about food, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle choices.

We do this by:

• educating students in schools about nutrition and physical activity
• giving families information about nutrition and lifestyle choices during pregnancy and early childhood
• hosting free family cooking classes in the community
• supporting children and their families with obesity and type 2 diabetes
• supporting children and their families at Logan Hospital.

Working with others

We work with health professionals, teachers and people working in early childhood.

This includes:

• providing cultural training and professional development
• running workshops to build local knowledge
• coordinating policy and practice changes in health, early childhood and schools.

We also do research to improve the prevention, treatment and management of obesity and chronic disease and how it effects the development of young children.