Research reveals land management health benefits
A study has found hundreds of thousands of dollars can be saved in health care costs if remote Aboriginal residents are involved in land management.
The Desert Knowledge Co-operative Research Centre found those on the land had significantly lower rates of renal disease, diabetes and hypertension.
The estimated cost savings are $270,000 a year for a community of 1,200 residents.
One researcher, David Campbell, says the findings challenge a policy of encouraging remote residents to move to more populated areas.
"The obvious ones is improved diet, getting away from fatty foods, and exercise. But a lot of the chronic diseases has to do with what is referred to as psychological and social factors," he said.
Mr Campbell says the study shows people can be healthier on their home country, away from bigger population centres.
"We believe that these estimates are, for a variety of reasons, more likely to be underestimates than overestimates, so these outcomes are quite important in terms of general public debate," he said.