Chronic Disease Radio Programs

Hear Chronic Disease Educational Programs

Below is a selection of Chronic Disease related educational programs we currently have playing on air on the Yolngu Radio Service. Simply hit the 'Play Audio' button to play any track in a popup window.

These files are in MP3 audio format and should play in your default Media Player when you click the Play Audio button.

Chronic Disease Programs

Cancer Series 1 (9 part series)

Cancer Series 1: Part A - Common cancers (7:56)
This program explains that “cancer” is one type of disease, but can be in any part of our body. Yurranydjil and Wäŋgarr explain this using a metaphor of “Yolŋu” – Yolŋu are one people, but there are many clans who live in different places. The most common cancers in Yolŋu communities are introduced – for men: lung, colorectal, liver (prostrate is one of the most common but the women could not talk about it on air for cultural reasons); for women: breast, lung, colorectal and “women’s” cancer (synonym for cervical and uterine). A metaphor is used to describe these ‘common cancers’. The yolŋu terms used is maraŋu mala wäŋa, meaning that most yolŋu live in the major communities (the most common cancers are in particular places in our body) but some Yolŋu live in homelands (There are other less common cancers in other body parts).

Cancer Series 1: Part B - Risk (7:44)
The concept of “risk” does not appear to exist in Yolŋu worldview as an abstract, and there are apparently no words that directly translate for risk, danger or safety. Therefore, a metaphor was developed involving a potential “dangerous” or “risky” activity – the risk of buffalo attack whilst walking through the bush. The signs of high risk are discussed – such as being close to fresh buffalo dung, or seeing or hearing a buffalo. It also talks about being dhudi-dhäwumirr knowing what to do in this situation, such as stand very still or run to a particular type of tree. This metaphor is then applied to risky behaviours (or “risk factors”) such as smoking, drinking alcohol, eating high meat diets, or having cancer in our family, are like being near a buffalo and continuing to walk casually. If we become dhudi-dhäwumirr about cancer, then this can help prevent us from getting cancer.

Cancer Series 1: Part C -Summary (2:49)
This short program summarises what has been discussed in the previous two programs in a succinct way.

Cancer Series 1: Part D - Symptoms (10:56)
This program outlines cancer symptoms. The most common cancers and their corresponding specific symptoms are discussed first, in a way that links the symptom with the disease process. Lung cancer symptoms can be a chronic cough, coughing up blood, trouble breathing. Bowel cancer symptoms can be constipation or bleeding from the bottom. Breast cancer symptoms can be a lump, discharge from the nipple or changes in the skin or nipple. General symptoms of cancer are also discussed in detail – feeling tired or weak, losing weight, loss of appetite. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all which is why the clinic offers regular check-ups for women and men. It is important to catch the cancer early so go for check-ups or if you have any symptoms, go to the clinic. This way, the cancer may only be small and may be more easily cured.

Cancer Series 1: Part E - Cells (8.44)
This program introduces and explains the concept of “cells” in Yolŋu Matha – all living things including humans are made up of millions of cells; there are many different types of cells that join together to form the different parts of our body; cells can only be seen with a microscope. Cells were discovered by scientists relatively recently whilst looking at plants under a microscope. They called them “cells” (mungurr mala) because they looked like little rooms. Yurranydjil explains that borukpili, a native fruit, is made up of small segments joining together, this is used as a metaphor for how cells join to form one “organ” or body part. Cells are alive and are constantly replicating. We see this if we cut our skin, the skin cells replicate and grow to join the skin back together. Each cell has a specific job, depending on what type of cell it is – heart cells contract so that the heart can “pump”; there are red blood cells and white blood cells.

Cancer Series 1: Part F - DNA (8:28)
This program introduces DNA and builds on the information about cells in the previous program. DNA is inside all the cells in our body – it controls what type of cell each cell will be and controls the work of the cell. It is also responsible for cell replication. DNA and cells can only be seen with a microscope, not with our eyes. A possible Yolŋu term for DNA is introduced – wäyuk djinaga’puy – which means the inside law of the body. Scientists have found out that DNA has a “pattern” – much like the colour patterns of wäyuk (ceremonial law strings) have coloured patterns that encode the law of the clan. The pattern on the DNA likewise encodes the “law” of the cell, and thus directs what work it does.

Cancer Series 1: Part G - Breaking DNA (8:28)
Following on from the previous two programs, this program explains that Cancer is a disease of cells and DNA. Briefly re-explains that our whole body is made of cells, and in each cell is DNA which controls cell replication and the cells individual work. If the DNA is broken, then it can’t work properly, and the cells replicate out of control. The metaphor is used that if the coloured pattern on wäyuk strings is broken or out of correct order, then the law of the clan cannot be kept and trouble results. If one cell starts replicating out of control, because the DNA inside is broken, then eventually the cells build up and become a lump – this is cancer.

Cancer Series 1: Part H - Lung and Liver Cancer: What breaks DNA? (10:27)
This program explores what damages DNA. It begins with lung cancer; the smoke from cigarettes contains many “chemicals” or “poisons” that damage DNA. It explains that tar, the black fluid that is often depicted in lungs on cigarette packet pictures, contains many poisons that break DNA, and soaks into the lungs. Smoking is a ‘risk’, as is walking around near fresh buffalo dung (due to the potential of getting chased by a buffalo). Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption over a long time can damage DNA in liver cells, causing liver cancer. The poisons of cigarettes and other things can also damage DNA in other parts of our body. Lung cancer is very common in Yolŋu communities because many Yolŋu smoke cigarettes; Wäŋgarr explains that many Yolŋu don’t have the dhudi-dhäwu – the deeper story about how smoking causes cancer. Less non-Indigenous people smoke and hence less get or die from lung cancer.

Cancer Series 1: Part i - Treatment (10:59)
This program explores three types of treatments for cancer – operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is very strong medicine – it’s a fluid that is given IV (into our veins). It destroys cells that are “out of control” – cancer cells (damaged DNA). We can feel sick, tired, lose our appetite or our hair may fall out from chemotherapy because the medicine is so strong and is working hard to make us better. Surgeons will take out the cancer lump by an operation. Sometimes patients need an operation and chemotherapy because there are cancer cells left in the body that are too small for the doctor to see and cut out – chemotherapy will destroy the left over cells. The other type of treatment is radiotherapy – which is like a laser. The cancer lump (the cells) are “burnt” or destroyed by the radiotherapy. This treatment can only be used on the main cancer lump and not on our whole body like chemotherapy. If we get cancer, these treatments can cure us and we can live – especially if we go to the clinic or hospital early.

Cancer Series 2 (3 part series)

Cancer Series 2: Part 1 (05:42)
Daphne Munurrgitj talks with Dr Alyssa Vass (Galikali) and Joy Bulkanhawuy about her journey with breast cancer. In this first program she describes that she found a lump in her armpit and asked a non-Indigenous co-worker at the shop about it, who told her to go to the clinic straight away. At first she didn't think it was anything but a lump, but she was sent to Darwin to have a test - where they took some tissue from the lump - and she was told it was breast cancer. She tells us that she didn't feel sick at all, which Dr Alyssa says can be the case with cancer - even though we might look and feel well, we can still have it. She was very scared though, especially while waiting two weeks for the test results.

Cancer Series 2: Part 2 (11:36)
In this second program, Munurrgitj explains she was given two options - to have her whole breast removed, or to have just the lump removed. She decided on having the lump removed, followed by chemotherapy. Dr Alyssa explains that when people have an operation they often also need to have chemotherapy - one treatment is not enough – because after they take out the lump, there might be little bits of cancer left behind (too small to see) that the chemotherapy kills. If any small bits get left behind they might grow and make the person sick again. Munurrgitj talks about having the portacath, so that the chemotherapy can get into the blood vessels and travel throughout the whole body, killing any remaining cancer. The ladies also talk about why hair falls out with chemotherapy, and Munurrgitj explained that her hair fell out, but after a few months it grew back again and now is very long.

Cancer Series 2: Part 3 - Treatment (05:47)
In the final program, Dr Alyssa explains that even though someone might have had treatment for cancer, they still need to take any medications the doctors prescribe, which might stop the cancer coming back. Also, they still need to go for checkups to make sure the cancer hasn't come back. In the same way all of us need to keep getting our checkups, because even if one checkup is clear, the cancer might grow later. They also explain that Munurrgitj's story is a good one - because it helps us learn that if we go for our checkups, or go straight to the clinic if we find a lump, then we can get treated. It makes it easier for the doctors to get rid of the cancer and we may not die from it.

Why are People Dying? Series'

Why are people dying? Series 1 (02 of 07) Balanda sickness
This program discusses the history of balanda disease, in particular ‘the plague’. The educational song ‘Ring-a-ring-a-rosy’ is broken down and explained. At this time balanda didn’t understand where this sickness was coming from, many were blaming it on sorcery as a result, blaming Jews, gypsies and even God. They also blamed the smell due to unhygienic practises, which is how the song evolved and led to the invention of toilets. It was around the time they were building the big cities in Europe. 14-23 million people died. 14:23

Why are people dying? Series 1 (03 of 07) Cleansing ceremony
In Europe they killed millions of Jews, blaming them for causing the plague. With the invention of the microscope balanda learnt about bacteria and viruses, and realised that these tiny animals were most prevalent in very sick people. Slowly, over 200 years, people came to believe this discovery. Cleansing and washing practises are discussed, comparing between the plague era and today’s practises for both Yolngu and balanda. The program concludes with discussion of how Yolngu can increase health knowledge within 10 years, instead of 200 years, in the hope that mortality rates will rapidly improve. 17:31

Why are people dying? Series 1 (04 of 07) Balanda and bacteria
There are 3-5 funerals every week in Arnhem Land and these deaths are too often blamed on ‘Galka’ (sorcery). It took balanda 200 years to believe germ theory after the invention of microscopes. Macassans brought some diseases such as leprosy, strongyloides and scabies but they didn’t cause widespread devastation like the balanda diseases that came later like TB, the flu, syphilis and small pox. Yolngu also need to be ready for different new sicknesses that are emerging. 16:52

Why are people dying? Series 1 (05 of 07) Hygiene
This program discusses aspects of hygiene such as washing; In Europe around the time of the plague, before they had much knowledge of germ theory, people would have only washed about once a year. When they arrived on the shores of Australia they were very dirty and carrying so many different germs and diseases due to lack of hygiene. These new diseases spread so quickly amongst different indigenous groups as balanda settlement occurred across Australia and also America, Fiji, Tonga and most other places colonised around the same time. 17:41

Why are people dying? Series 1 (06 of 07) Cleanliness
This program is a discussion of the history of the transmission of diseases such as small pox and TB in relation to cleanliness and hygiene. There was no medicine to stop people being infected with small pox, people were just dying; Small pox originates from cattle, people were living with cattle and hence caught small pox; Possum blankets were traded for balanda blankets that were dirty and already infected with small pox. These diseases were a weapon of which neither the settlers nor the indigenous people were aware. 15:04

Why are people dying? Series 1 (07 of 07) Food Heaven
This is a discussion around Yolngu food sources and knowledge. Integration of balanda foods is slowly causing people to forget their traditional bush food knowledge. Relates to what happened in the balanda world many years ago with the introduction of unhealthy processed foods produced by big companies only designed to make money. These pre-prepared, easy foods that produced big children was viewed as ‘magic food’ by many Yolngu. Sourcing traditional foods takes time and work comparatively. Unfortunately, this extreme change in diet often has serious health implications like diabetes, gout and many others. 18:16

Why people are dying? Series 04 (01 of 02) Cancer
Funerals these days are so frequent in NE Arnhem Land that it is physically impossible to attend them all. The key causes of death are TB, kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, emphysema and others. Mortality rates in NE Arnhem Land are amongst the highest in the world. Microscope literacy helps people easily understand germ theory and disease, and hence the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes eating lots of good fresh food, exercising regularly and having plenty of good sleep. All these things help prevent the nasty diseases that so many people are dying from in NE Arnhem Land today. 15:57

Why people are dying? Series 04 (02 of 02) Killer cells
This program begins with further discussion of the aspects that make up a healthy lifestyle and help to prevent the main lifestyle related diseases that are so prevalent in NE Arnhem Land. Looking through a microscope gives people the opportunity to see the tiny animals (bacteria) in our bodies, the red and white blood cells and many other aspects of the body to increase health knowledge. The discussion leads into the ‘natural killer cell’ or cancer cell and explains how cancer occurs within the body. 23:28

Why are people dying? - Part 1 of 7
Discussing the different types of diseases Yolngu are suffering from and trying to figure out the causes of it

Why are people dying? - Part 2 of 7
Conditions in hospitals are not up to health standards 9:47

Why are people dying? - Part 3 of 7
Domesticated animals. It is not healthy to be living with animals.
Eating the right foods should be a piority in every household. Don't rely entirely on 'new foods' because some of these foods have additives in them that are not good for our bodies. 14:47

Why are people dying? - Part 4 of 7
Napaki and Yolŋu have different views on all topics including health 15:38

Why are people dying? - Part 5 of 7
TB coming back to Arnhem Land. Years ago a lot of people were suffering from TB
in Arnhem Land and now the disease has returned. 15:50

Why are people dying? - Part 6 of 7
Talking about the types of diseases back in the old days and all the new diseases.4:10

Why are people dying? - Part 7 of 7
Metaphorically speaking, The wind has changed in terms of health 19:17

Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Programs

Skin sore skit
Many people do not realise the risks associated with common skin sores. This program is a short skit of a conversation between two women discussing how Strep A bacteria can enter your body and hence your blood through a skin sore. They talk about the danger this poses for the body and highlight the importance of looking after skin sores, particularly for children, to avoid such illnesses as rheumatic fever. 3:35

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 01 of 14 Series and topic introduction.
Introduction to the speakers and the topic of Rheumatic Heart Disease and Rheumatic Fever. 2:07

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 02 of 14 Introduction to Rheumatic Fever and RHD
Explains the differences between Rheumatic Heart Disease and Rheumatic Fever, but also explores the relationship between the two. Rheumatic Heart Disease occurs when someone has had Rheumatic fever too many times and as a result has too much damage to their heart causing heart disease. Information on the history of both diseases is provided. 6:55

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 03 of 14 How do these sicknesses start?
Explaining how Strep A bacteria, a nasty bacteria, can enter our bodies through a skin sore. The reaction of white blood cells is explained in their attempt to rid the body of this bacteria. This is described as a big fight between the white blood cells and the bacteria. This fight has a number of different effects on the body: fever, aching joints and sometimes damage to the valves (or doors) inside the heart. 6:17

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 04 of 14 How does Rhematic Fever stops?
How do we stop RF? One antibiotic called penicillin or LA Bicillin. This kills the bad germ Strep A. But if you get RF again and again you can get damage to your heart and get RHD. If you get RF once and get LA bilcillin once, how do you get it again? Anytime you get another skin sore or sore throat, Strep A can be living there. Even if they get penicillin once, if they get another sore, they can then get RF again. So don’t just accept ‘sores’ on our skin, get them treated and cover them up. This is part of a bigger story.6:10

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 05 of 14 Bicillin & penicillin injection
Why do some kids get that injection called Bicillin or penicillin? To stop them getting RF again and again. The penicillin medicine is always in their body and kills any strep A so that our white blood cells won’t need to start a big fight. Don’t miss any injections because they could get RF again. Each time they get RF they can get more damage to their heart valves and end up with the other sickness RHD. The valves are important for moving our blood around the right way. 4:53

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 06 of 14 what happens when the valves are damaged?
When the valves are damaged what happens? Inside our heart are four rooms and four doors. Our blood comes into our heart and through the doors. The doors keep the blood going one way only, the right way. When the doors get damaged, they can’t shut properly and some blood goes back the wrong way. This makes our heart work harder because some of our blood is going back the wrong way through the damaged door. Remember what causes the damage, the bad bacteria called Strep A, and where does strep A come from? Our sores. When we listen with the stethoscope we can hear the doors of our heart shutting: Dup Dup Dup Dup. We can hear the sound of the blood going back the wrong way through damaged doors: Dup shhh Dup shhh. Doors are called valves. 7:31

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 07 of 14 stopping the doors from getting more damaged
How do we stop the doors from getting more damaged? The only way we know is having the injection every three or four weeks. This stops RF and then we won’t get RHD. Having the penicillin injection every month is the only way we can protect the valves. People who have had RF need the injection for many, many years and only the heart specialist can tell you when to stop having it. Get the injection every month so the strep A won’t go into your body. If you are not in your usual community and your injection is due, go to a health clinic anywhere and ask for your injection. Never miss your injection. 6:41

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 08 of 14 Why do some children have a heart operation in a big city?
Why do some children have a heart operation in a big city? To put a new door in their heart. But even if they have this operation, they still need the injection to protect the other doors, remember there are four doors. Don’t think that if you have had the operation you are now back to normal. Even if you have the operation, you can be well and live long and do the things you want to do. Even our prime minister of Australia has had this operation. But you still need the penicillin injection to stop the Strep A bacteria from going into your body.5:21

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 09 of 14 When you have Rheumatic Heart Disease
When you have RHD and your heart is weak, you will be continually getting the penicillin. But you will also most likely be having other medicines as well. These medicines will help your heart to work to send your blood to your body. We don’t want people to be getting RHD so that’s why it is important to get the penicillin injections. If you have RHD, don’t think that you are ok and the sickness has disappeared. Your valves are damaged and you need to have medicines to help your heart. The first sickness is RF and the second sickness, RHD, is a very serious one. They are two different sicknesses. Only the doctor can tell you when to stop your injections. 6:28

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 10 of 14 How do the valves actually get damaged?
How do the valves actually get damaged? It’s a complex story. Remember the Strep A and the WBC’s? When we look at this Strep A through the microscope, we can see tiny dots or marks on their skin. Our white blood cells notice these marks and it tells them that the bacteria are Strep A. Some children have marks that look like this on their heart valves, like a birth mark. They don’t hurt the child, they are just born with them. When Strep A if found by the WBCs, they attack them. When the Strep A and the WBCs are fighting, the WBCs notice the marks on the valves. They think that the valves are more strep A and they attack them by mistake. When Strep A repeatedly goes into a childs body, the WBCs recognise the dots on the valves and make the mistake and attack the valves. There are three entities in this story: the bad bacteria Strep A, the White Blood cells who make a mistake and the heart valves. The dots on the valves are carried through family lines. 15:18

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 11 of 14 Where does strep A live?
Where does strep A live? In sores on our skin or in a sore throat. It doesn’t live on healthy skin because our natural skin oils kill them. Strep A can travel from person to person by our hands etc. The strep A can stick onto our hands even though we can’t see them there. It is like they get a free ride. And if we then touch our skin and our skin has a tiny hole in it, then the Strep A can go in and make a new home there and start to reproduce there. So strep A goes from a person with sores to another person without sores. The other way is if we have strep A living in our sore throat and we cough or spit, then the strep A can come out through the air and go to another person, or be in our spit. So by coughing or spitting.7:03

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 12 of 14 How can I stop strep A?
How can I stop Strep A from going into my body or going from person to person? There are many ways. Washing our skin regularly. And if we hug or touch a person with sores, then we can wash our hands to stop the strep A from sticking onto our hands. If we have any skin sores, treat with traditional or clinic medicine and cover it with a bandage. Then no one can touch the sore and get the strep A onto their hands. Even if the sores are small. Also treat scabies because scabies burrow in and make holes in our skin. Scabies make us itchy and we also make holes in our skin when we scratch. And then Strep A can enter through the holes. 8:44

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 13 of 14 Rheumatic Heart Disease Register
In the NT doctors have made a list of all the people who have either of these two sicknesses RF or RHD so they don’t forget anyone’s injection and look after them well. This is called the Rheumatic Heart Disease Register and you can have your name on this list if you agree. In countries where there is a list there is less RHD because children don’t get forgotten when they have these diseases. When your name is on the list this helps to stop RHD. And when you are travelling and your injection is due, tell the clinic or hospital there so you can get your injection. 6:30

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease 14 of 14 Strep A
When we go to the dentist for teeth problems he asks lots and lots of questions. Why? When we have a sore tooth or an abscess in our gums this is caused by different bacteria, not Strep A. Sometimes those bacteria can go into our blood and on to our heart. And if we have damage to our valves from RF then the different bacteria can do more damage to our valves. So the dentist asks us about RF and RHD to find out if we have had these diseases. If we have, then he can give us different antibiotic medicine to kill the bacteria in our teeth or plaque before he gives us an injection to numb our gums. This is another way to protect our heart valves. So don’t think that the dentist is being impolite by asking lots of questions. Tell him if you have had RF or RHD. 6:14

High Blood Pressure and Heart Attack Programs

High Blood Pressure 01 of 3 Causes
The more you smoke, the higher the nicotine level is in your blood, and the higher your blood pressure. This accounts to a large extent for the great increase in strokes, heart attacks, and pain in the legs due to poor circulation in smokers. 11:35

High Blood Pressure 02 of 3 Heart Attack
Smoking accelerates the process of narrowing of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack. Not a lot of Yolngu realizes that they are having a heart attack. Get information from the Clinic 10:20

High Blood Pressure 03 of 3 Heart Attack Symptoms
Heart Attack Symptoms:CHEST DISCOMFORT: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
DISCOMORT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UPPER BODY: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. 15:16

Heart Attack 1 of 3 Intro & What is "Heart Attack"?
Introduction to the idea of heart attacks. 10:44

Heart Attack 2 of 3 How do you get a heart attack? Lifestyle
How heart attacks are brought about by their lifestyle choices. 7:33

Heart Attack 3 of 3 Think about about what you put in your mouth!
How heart attacks can be brought about by bad eating habits. 5:18

Heart Attack Early Warning Signs
If you feel these symptoms then go to the doctor as soon as possible! 2:09

Diabetes, Kidney Disease and Sugar Programs

Diabetes 4: 01 of 04 What does the name Diabetes mean?
This program is a discussion with the director of Menzies School of Health Research about the origins of the name ‘Diabetes’. The name ‘Diabetes’ comes from the Greek word for honey due to diabetics having a lot of sugar in their urine, or sweet urine. Two thousand years ago in Greece when diabetes was first discovered, the doctors would taste the urine to test if it was sweet, indicating that the person had diabetes.10:03

Diabetes 4: 02 of 04 Sweet Drinks Cause Diabetes!
Diabetes was a rare disease until about 40 or 50 years ago. Now, there are twice as many people with Diabetes in Australia than there was 20 years ago. When people get fat, they can get Diabetes. Diabetes is caused by eating a lot of food that is high in fat and sugar, overeating and not exercising enough. Drinking sugar in tea and soft drinks also increases the risk. Sweet drinks give us a lot of sugar, but do not satisfy hunger. In the past, certain foods were only available at specific times, such as wild honey, which takes a lot of energy to source. Before sweet drinks were available, we only drank water. Drinking water instead of sweet drinks can help prevent diabetes. 12:31

Diabetes 4: 03 of 04 Overeating and no exercise causes Diabetes
When we overeat, or eat lots of sugar and fatty foods, then we end up with excess fat in our bodies and blood, which can lead to diabetes. Our liver turns sugar into fat. Fat can get stored all over the body, but too much fat around the stomach is dangerous. Wallabies get fat from the sugar in grass. Fat is being moved in and out of our fat cells and blood all the time. When there is a lot of fat around our stomach, fat is transferred into our blood, which can block up the blood vessels, leading to strokes or heart attacks. It also makes the insulin and pancreas weak, from having to work so hard. 10:57

Diabetes 4: 04 of 04 No exercise causes Diabetes!
This program focuses on prevention and healthy management of diabetes. Yolŋu traditionally had a good diet of bush foods and lots of exercise to source it. Now people drive cars, motor boats and buy shop food. It is important to buy "good food" in the store, like fruit, vegetables and meat without fat on it. If we get fat, we can end up with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even kidney disease. A trial in WA where 14 people with diabetes went to their homelands and lived off the land and after only 7 weeks their diabetes became much better, almost cured. Their blood pressure and weight also went down. The "medicine" was good bush food and lots of exercise. 15:44

Too much ‘sitting around’ can cause Diabetes.
Explains how diabetes can be caused by things other than white sugar. Overeating and a lack of exercise are key factors in the rise in diabetes. 6:07

Water can prevent Diabetes.
Water, healthy foods and exercise are good preventatives for diabetes. 9:50

Exercise to prevent Diabetes
Exercise is a good preventative for diabetes. Activity was an integral part of the traditional lifestyle. 6:20

Diabetes and Blindness
Talks about how diabetes can cause blindness. 12:33

Back to the Bush
Traditional foods as a preventative for diabetes. 23:31

Diabetes story Part 1 - How to Eat Healthy
Patient gives a story of how to stay healthy by eating good food. 4:52

Diabetes story Part 2 - Living with Diabetes and Renal Failure
Patient gives their story of living with diabetes and renal failure. 12:47

Diabetes story Part 3 - Living with Diabetes and Renal Failure
Patient continues their story of living with diabetes and renal failure. 4:56

Diabetes: the health implications
Discusses diabetes and some health implications such as damage to the eyes & wounds not healing efficiently. 12:21

Type 2 Diabetes: The role of Insulin
Discusses type 2 diabetes and the role of insulin in the body. 10:14

Diabetes: a lifestyle disease
Discusses how overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can cause diabetes. 9:39

Talking about Diabetes and Kidney tablets
Explains why people take kidney tablets for diabetes. 11:43

The causes of kidney disease
This program is an in-depth discussion about the causes of kidney disease. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease in the NT and around the world. The kidneys are made of many small capillaries that filter the blood and clean out any rubbish, which is then excreted from the body through urination. High blood sugar levels and blood pressure (diabetes) causes the capillaries to harden, scar and eventually block, meaning they can’t filter blood. This is kidney disease. Prevention of diabetes comes through a good healthy diet without much junk food, water instead of soft drinks and enough exercise to burn excess fats and sugars. 19:08

What do the kidneys do? What is kidney disease?
Briefly explains the function of the kidneys and then looks at some of the primary causes of kidney disease. 13:22

What is kidney disease ? Part 2
Gives an in depth explanation of kidney disease 11:51

The kidneys: filtration of waste products
An in-depth discussion of the kidney’s role, filtering waste products from the body. 14:21

The causes of Renal disease
Looks at the causes of renal disease. 23:27

Diabetes Story: Part 01 of 06
Diabetes is a sickness relating to sugar. This program discusses how sugar and fat enters the body, breaks down in the stomach and gives us energy. It explains that traditional bush food like "guku" or honey has lots of sugar. Other bush foods like seafood and roots do not taste sweet but do have lesser amounts of "sugar" in them still give us energy. The pancreas is introduced as an organ that sits near our stomach and produces Insulin to help our bodies "manage" the sugar we eat.11:26

Diabetes Story: Part 02 of 06
Further discussion on the pancreas' function; the role of insulin in responding to varying levels of sugar in our body and assisting sugar to enter our muscles and other parts of the body. There are two types of diabetes; ’Type 1’ diabetes is when there is not enough insulin produced, and ‘Type 2’ is when the insulin is "weak". When we eat something with sugar in it, our body uses a little bit straight away but there is left over sugar in our blood. This left over sugar is stored up as fat for use later. This is how a person can become fat. The pancreas is constantly working and is a very important organ. 10:52

Diabetes Story: Part 03 of 06
This program follows on with further discussion of how sugar and fat are used and stored in our bodies, and the implications associated with being overweight, such as the stress to the Pancreas. Overweight people can feel tired and weak; this is due to overworking the pancreas with too much excess sugar, meaning that not enough can be processed into useable energy for the muscles and body to function easily. If a person is diagnosed with diabetes, it is for the rest of their life. However, there are ways to manage it such as good food, exercise and medicine; these all aim to help keep the blood sugar levels near normal. There is no way to cure diabetes entirely though. 11:39

Diabetes Story: Part 04 of 06
This program explains the process of blocking and damaging blood vessels due to excess fat in the blood. It explains that this means the blood cannot travel around the body easily, which leads to health issues such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, and provides explanation of how each one of these occurs. It explains that fat damages the large blood vessels in the body, whereas sugar damages the smaller capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in our kidneys and eyes. The program concludes with advice to diabetics in relation to lack of blood flow to the feet and the care that must be taken if a diabetic gets a skin sore on their feet.10:26

Diabetes Story: Part 05 of 06
Following on from the previous introduction to the way sugar damages the capillaries in the kidneys and the eyes, this program elaborates into how that damage can take effect. For the kidneys, it means a dialysis machine will need to assist in the task of cleaning the rubbish out of the blood. For the eyes, damage to the capillaries at the back of the eyes means that the person will not be able to see properly. The program discusses good ways to manage diabetes to keep the blood sugar levels as normal as possible. These include eating bush food, good fresh fruit and vegetables and other packaged food that has the heart foundation tick, and making sure to get plenty of exercise. 12:56

Diabetes Story: Part 06 of 06
This program follows on from the talk about good and bad foods and fats in part 5. There are other good fats from vegetables, such as olive or canola oil, but they still need to be used in moderation. Smoking and alcohol are bad for the body and can contribute to blood vessels becoming blocked. People with diabetes should go to the clinic regularly for checkups on their eyes and kidneys. For management of diabetes make sure to eat good food, take your medicine and exercise regularly. To prevent getting diabetes do the same – eat good healthy food and exercise regularly. 8:27

Soft Drinks 1 of 5 : Is there battery acid in Coke?
One of the first questions that came out of dialogue about soft drinks with Yolŋu was ‘Does Coke really have battery acid in it?’ In this program Dr Alyssa Vass and Djimbuluku Dhurrkay discuss what citric acid is, and the difference between citric acid and battery acid. 8:18

Soft Drinks 2 of 5 : What gives Coke its brown colour?
Many Yolŋu believe the colour brown in Coke comes from berries and that this is what gives it a sweet taste. This program talks about caramel colouring, and how it is made. People remember caramel being made in the school during mission time. This history story is told by Djimbuluku to scaffold new information. 6:57

Soft Drinks 3 of 5 : How much sugar is there in coke?
Research on this topic revealed that some Yolŋu do not know there is sugar in many drinks that come from the shop. This program discusses how many teaspoons of sugar are in small and large bottles of Coke, Sprite, Fanta, and orange juice. 5:43

Soft Drinks 4 of 5 : What happens when sugar goes inside the body?
This program discusses what happens when sugar is digested. This includes how excess sugar is converted to fat and puts us at risk of diabetes and heart disease. 6:00

Soft Drinks 5 of 5 : What happens when we eat an apple?
This program compares the sugar in an apple to the sugar digested in a can of coke. It links back to and reinforces the new concept of ‘excess sugar being converted to fat’. 6:16