Natasha Robinson; 15/7/09
The axing of nutrition programs in schools in remote Aboriginal communities has led to heavy criticism of the West Australian government and the prediction by one principal that school attendance will drop. The state Health Department was unable to reveal yesterday how many schools were set to lose their nutrition programs, but a health official has told one affected school that no annual contracts funded under the four-year Australian Better Health Initiative program will be renewed in this financial year. School nutrition programs are seen as critical to school attendance in many remote Aboriginal communities. The axing of the programs is part of a larger series of cuts by the West Australian government to preventive health programs funded under the Australian Better Health Initiative.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25778630-5006789,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Children, Education, health