The Malpa Young Doctors Program is a nationally recognised, school-based early intervention initiative that empowers children with health knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills during their formative years. For over 15 years, Malpa has worked directly with primary school students across Australia, delivering a 15-week program that focuses on preventative health, wellbeing, and aspiration. The program ...
The Malpa Project
Malpa Young Doctors
GOAL
$20,000
Australia > SA > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- First Nations communities
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
Target Population
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Young people (6-25)
The Malpa Project
Malpa is an Aboriginal led, culturally grounded health leadership organisation that delivers the Young Doctors (also known as Young Doctors for Life) program.
The program works with primary school aged children (typically 9–12 years), engaging both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children to learn together and become health ambassadors in their communities. Through a strength based, community design approach, Malpa brings children from different backgrounds together in shared learning, fostering understanding, respect and reconciliation from an early age. The program blends traditional Indigenous knowledges with contemporary health practices, promoting lifelong wellbeing, strong cultural identity, and mutual respect. By learning side by side, children build connections across cultures, develop leadership skills, and grow as the next generation of advocates for healthy, inclusive communities.
Project Summary
The Malpa Young Doctors Program is a nationally recognised, school-based early intervention initiative that empowers children with health knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills during their formative years.
For over 15 years, Malpa has worked directly with primary school students across Australia, delivering a 15-week program that focuses on preventative health, wellbeing, and aspiration. The program is unique in that it is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who invite their non-Indigenous peers to learn alongside them, creating a powerful, lived experience of reconciliation at an early age.
This project will support the delivery of the Malpa Young Doctors Program in schools experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, where access to health education, positive role models, and future pathways is often limited. Through weekly sessions, students build practical skills in hygiene, nutrition, and healthy living, while also developing confidence, school engagement, and leadership.
Funding will be used to deliver the 15-week program in targeted schools, support trained facilitators and Aboriginal Community Education Officers, provide healthy food resources and program materials, fund excursions that expose students to real-world health careers through the “Seeing is Believing” experience, and support program evaluation, reporting, and long-term sustainability.
The expected outcomes include improved school attendance and engagement, increased health literacy, stronger self-belief, and greater awareness of future career pathways. Independent evaluation has previously identified Malpa as one of Australia’s most successful child health programs, with demonstrated impact in both health and education outcomes.
By investing in early intervention, this project supports children early in life to build
Project Outcomes
The Malpa Young Doctors Program will deliver measurable improvements in health, education, and wellbeing outcomes for participating students.
Students will demonstrate increased health literacy, including a stronger understanding of hygiene, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices, leading to improved day-to-day behaviours. The program is also expected to increase school engagement and attendance, as students feel more connected, confident, and motivated to participate in learning.
Participants will build confidence, leadership skills, and self-belief through hands-on activities and peer learning. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will be empowered as leaders within the program, strengthening cultural pride and identity, while fostering genuine reconciliation through shared learning with non-Indigenous peers.
The program will also increase awareness of future pathways, particularly in health and education, by exposing students to real-world experiences and role models through excursions and immersive learning opportunities.
At a school and community level, the program will contribute to stronger relationships between students, educators, and community, while supporting broader Closing the Gap priorities in health, education, and social outcomes.
Overall, the project will support children to build the foundations for healthier lives, improved educational outcomes, and stronger futures.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $20,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funding Gap | $20,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Program delivery (facilitators / AEO support) | $8,000 |
| Healthy food & program resources | $2,500 |
| Excursions (“Seeing is Believing”) | $3,000 |
| Teacher release / school support | $2,500 |
| Program materials (shirts, books, kits) | $1,500 |
| Program management, reporting & evaluation | $2,500 |
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