Pit Stop Program (DAS Building

Pit Stop Program

Take a health pit stop and keep your motor running!

We, Umoona Tjutagku Health Service, held the Pit stop program on 7

th

of August 2021 at Drug and Alcohol center from 06.30 pm to 08.30 pm with a BBQ session. We had 13 male clients for the program getting their blood and urine checked and were able to see the doctor as well. The clients had a yarn with the doctor and Alcohol and Other Drugs social workers during the program. The clients were very happy about the program and its inclusions and suggested that they are happy if we can organize Men’s Pit stop programs every six months.

Pit stop program is developed by Gascoyne Public health unit in Western Australia and it is a creative way of health promotion especially aimed for Aboriginal males who valued their privacy, confidentiality and safe environment all the time. It increases men’s awareness of health issues, preventative strategies and encouraging better use of GP services. The program begins by offering participants to measure their ‘roadworthiness’ through attending nine stations staffed by health mechanics.

Stations include:

Chassis check (hip to waist ratio), Torsion (flexibility), Exhaust (smoking), Fuel additives (alcohol consumption), Oil pressure (blood pressure), Spark plugs (testicles), Duco (skin cancer), Extractor (colorectal cancer), Shock absorbers (coping skills).

The overall environment is non-medical and usually hosted at events like field days to provide a comfortable and fun learning environment.