Aspen Medical Foundation and Indigenous Marathon Foundation bring health awareness program to First Nations communities in Karratha

The Aspen Medical Foundation proudly partnered with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) to bring the I-CAN (Indigenous Communities for Activity and Nutrition) program to Karratha over the past 12 months. 

The I-CAN Program is designed to inspire young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through physical activity, healthy lifestyle education and positive role modelling. It aims to increase school attendance, promote the benefits of movement, and encourage children to pursue future pathways with confidence and resilience.

Mel Broers, Aspen Medical’s Social Impact Manager, said: “The Aspen Medical Foundation has been making a deliberate effort to align the programs we fund with the areas in which we work. By doing so, we enable our team members to actively participate in the Foundation’s initiatives and create a stronger, more meaningful impact in the communities we serve.”

In Karratha, the program ran twice a week for eight weeks during lunchtime at Peg's Creek Primary School. Students enjoyed a variety of games, including traditional Aboriginal activities, which fostered both cultural pride and active engagement.

Aspen Medical’s Western Australia Resources Aeromedical Evacuation (WARAME) service sees doctors and paramedics work on rotating rosters, providing 24/7 retrieval, triage and clinical support for workers in remote and challenging environments. Whilst it is not always possible for the Aspen Medical team to attend school sessions due to the emergency nature of their work, when they do, the impact is significant. The sessions at the school were conducted by Dr Tim Parker, Dr Nantha Rama and Flight Paramedic Scotty Webster who shared their stories with the children.

Scotty said: "Dr Tim Parker and I had such a great time representing the Aspen Medical Foundation at Peg's Creek Primary School. The kids had an opportunity to ask Tim what it was like to be a doctor, and of course, how much fun it was to fly around in the helicopter and the Aspen Medical Air Ambulance Jet. They were also curious about my work as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic, including how many babies I’ve delivered in my career!

"We had some great conversations about the importance of trying your best at school, and how studying hard can open pathways to careers in Emergency Medicine and Paramedicine. We also joined in a PE lesson, playing games like bull-rush, Oz Tag and ‘The Rizzler’. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the local community and answer questions from some very talented students."

At Peg's Creek Primary, the program was led by Chanti McHenry, a 2025 Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) squad member currently training to run the New York Marathon. Chanti’s energy and passion inspired students and provided a safe space to connect through sport and culture.

Thanking the Aspen Medical team for their participation, Chanti said: "Dr Nantha was great to speak to, genuine and easy for the students to talk to and get along with. With Dr Tim and Scotty, the kids loved talking their ears off about medical emergency situations, and they both did an amazing job keeping it kid-friendly, so no one had nightmares!"

Aspen Medical Foundation is honoured to support programs like I-CAN, which combine physical health, education and cultural pride. By partnering with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, we are helping create lasting impact for young people in Karratha and beyond.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting the growth of I-CAN across Australia into the future.