Wubul Dandi means healthy, strong heart.
It's a fitting name for the Mossman Gorge community-led program that brings people together to take action on diabetes through culture, local leadership, healthy food, movement and collective support.
For many families in Mossman Gorge, diabetes is a daily reality – but Wubul Dandi is showing that prevention, support and healthier habits are strongest when they come from community.
With support from auDA’s Community Grant Program, Cape York Partnership is helping this program take the next step: bringing practical digital tools into Wubul Dandi through Pama Platform. The funding will support the teams to work with the Mossman Gorge community, Wubul Dandi, Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku Aboriginal Corporation (BBN), O-Hub and local health partners to co-design tools that are useful, accessible and grounded in local priorities.
BBN and local Wubul Dandi leaders are guiding the community priorities, O-Hub is supporting local engagement and Pama Platform is helping translate the priorities into practical digital tools.
The work will include a digital health resources library, goal-setting features, a progress dashboard and exploration of wearable technology, such as Fitbits. Together, these tools are being designed to make trusted health information easier to access, progress easier to see and milestones easier to celebrate.
Work is already well underway. A recent workshop in Mossman Gorge brought together community representatives and project partners to begin shaping what the digital tools should look like, how they should work and what would be most useful for participants in everyday life.
CYP Regional Community & Operations Lead Audrey Deemal said the workshop showed why community leadership must sit at the centre of the project.
“Wubul Dandi is driven by the strength and leadership of Mossman Gorge people. Our role is to listen, learn and help turn local priorities into practical tools that support healthier choices,” she said.
Local voices are central to the design process. The tools are being built with community, so they reflect the strengths, priorities and lived experience of Mossman Gorge.
As development continues, the focus will remain on practical action: helping people access resources about moving more, setting personal goals, tracking their progress and staying connected to the broader Wubul Dandi journey.
The goal is to give participants practical tools they can use between workshops, health appointments and community activities, helping them stay motivated and supported over time.
The next step will be user testing of a full beta version, expected in early July. This will give participants and project partners the opportunity to test the new tools, provide feedback and help refine the experience.
The project also strengthens digital inclusion by supporting participants to build confidence using technology in a way that is relevant to their own lives, health and community.
Pama Platform was built with Cape York communities to make digital tools more useful, accessible and connected to everyday life. Through Wubul Dandi, Pama will continue to support community-led solutions that strengthen health, confidence and opportunity.
In Mossman Gorge, this innovation is grounded in people working together for healthier families and a stronger community.
Cape York Partnership thanks auDA for supporting Indigenous-led digital innovation and looks forward to continuing this work with Wubul Dandi, BBN, O-Hub and the Mossman Gorge community.
FOR THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Cape York Partnership before 30 June. Your donation will create real opportunities for First Nations families to take responsibility and build a stronger future.
