“When ‘I’ is replaced with ‘We’, even illness becomes wellness” – Malcolm X
Why Pinnaroo?
The focus of the Pinnaroo Project is to address limited access to health services. It is a ground-breaking arts and health initiative that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the Pinnaroo community through a range of activities. Providing significant benefits for the local community, The Pinnaroo Project also has the potential to influence policy and programming in relation to health and wellbeing in regional Australia.
It is a proactive, history rich community
Pinnaroo as a community is ideally positioned to deliver this project for a range of reasons. Firstly, and most importantly because of the pro-active and ambitious nature of the community and its residents – in relation to arts but also in relation to health and the local economy. A number of local groups have reflected this in their planning and activities including Mallee Arts, Pinnaroo Community Inc and the Pinnaroo Fitness, Health and Wellbeing Association.
It is geographically remote but accessible
According to the ABS Pinnaroo is considered remote but it is within three hour’s drive of Adelaide – making it accessible for expertise and external partners to travel from a major capital centre without significant cost or time constraints. It is 243 kms east of Adelaide and situated in the Southern Mallee, near the Victorian border.
It has a stable population
Whilst there are a small number of seasonal workers that live in Pinnaroo on a temporary nature, the overall population is very stable. From a project involvement and research perspective this should translate into consistent participation from beginning to end. The population of Pinnaroo is just over 700 people.
It has limited access to health services
Pinnaroo, like many regional and remote communities has limited access to primary and allied health services.
The Pinnaroo Project 