Aquaponics Initiative to Boost Healthy Habits and Food Security
Healthy Lifestyle Officers (HLOs) and program participants from six island communities have recently taken part in a hands-on aquaponics training as part of the Too Deadly for Diabetes Program. Held on 1st May and organised by TSIRC and the Health and Wellbeing Program, the full-day workshop was led by Rodney Ingersoll, Director of Barron River Redclaw. Rodney brought a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to the training, helping participants explore new ways to grow food sustainably in remote areas.
Access to fresh, healthy food in the Torres Strait is often limited, making it difficult to maintain a balanced diet. The Too Deadly for Diabetes Program focuses on tackling diabetes and promoting a healthy lifestyle through better nutrition and daily exercise. This new training supports those goals by giving communities the tools to grow their own veggies and herbs—everything from lettuce, tomatoes and capsicum to beans and cucumbers, right at home.
Aquaponics is a smart and sustainable system that allows people to grow plants without soil or chemicals. Instead, it uses a fish tank connected to a separate growing bed. The fish produce waste that fertilises the plants, and the plants, in turn, clean the water for the fish. Thanks to the constant flow of water, the system is also pest-free and prevents stagnant water, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. It’s a self-sustaining cycle that’s both environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.
Throughout the training, our HLOs and program participants learned the theory behind aquaponics and got practical experience building and managing the systems. Each officer will now return to their community to build a model tank alongside local participants and share their knowledge. The long-term goal is for more families to build their own small aquaponics setups using locally available materials, and to eventually expand this practice to all TSIRC communities across our region.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council Councillor Keith Fell said the initiative plays an important role in supporting community wellbeing.
“This initiative is vital in tackling food insecurity by giving people greater control over what they eat and how it’s grown. It also promotes sustainable living and healthier lifestyle choices, planting the seeds for stronger, healthier, and more food-resilient communities across the Torres Strait,” Cr Fell said.
