The University of Queensland is leading the way in tackling the Indigenous health crisis through the use of information technology.
The National HITnet (Health Interactive Technology network) Development Program, led by UQ in Cairns, is addressing the gap in health status and the "digital divide" between Indigenous and other Australians.
Program Director, Helen Travers, of UQ's School of Medicine, recently presented a HITnet paper at the 13th International Conference for Virtual Systems and Multimedia.
"The use of innovative information technology is now well established in health," Ms Travers said.
"However, while the gap in health status between Indigenous and other Australians is both significant and unchanging, there is limited application of these new approaches to addressing this national health priority.
"This may reflect the 'digital divide', which is another facet of Indigenous disadvantage."
Dedicated to "bridging the information gap," HITnet promotes health and wellbeing to disadvantaged populations through creating and sharing New Media information in ways that empower individuals, families and communities.
This is achieved through the implementation of touch screen kiosks delivering multimedia health promotion material on topics including alcohol, sexual health, mental health, diabetes and smoking.
The material requires minimal formal literacy and information is conveyed through animated stories, interactive games, narrative learning modules and photo stories, making the kiosks a popular source of entertainment as well as a health promotion tool for Indigenous communities.
The kiosks can be accessed at health facilities located within Indigenous communities.
HITnet aims to install 26 kiosks in Queensland and Western Australia by the end of 2007, and has plans to expand the program to the Northern Territory by 2008.
There is also interest in placing kiosks in several North Queensland correctional centres with higher numbers of Indigenous inmates.
"Increasingly, bridging the digital divide is understood as a critical opportunity to contribue to bridging the health divide," Ms Travers said.
"The HITnet kiosk facility provides capacity for on-demand information independent of staffing in remote and challenging environments and is sustainable.
"In such disadvantaged populations we believe that these uses of innovative technology are a way of reducing inequality in terms of health, education and digital engagement."
HitNet received the Queensland Government Industry Prize at the International Conference for Virtual Systems and Multimedia on September 26.
More information is available from HITnet's website, hitnet.au.
The University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia
uq.edu.au