The Thumbs Up ! program is aimed at school age children 5 - 16. A creative environment using music and multi media workshops, concerts and cooking with senior community women will be employed to promote healthy eating education and information. The aim is to encourage young Indigenous Australians to make better and healthier food choices particularly in regard to drinking adequate amounts of water daily instead of sweet sugar laden fizzy drinks and also to promote the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables, as snacks, rather than choosing “junk” foods.
   
The incidence of Diabetes in communities leading to the inevitable associated chronic diseases decimating the Indigenous population is alarmingly high. Programs aimed specifically at Indigenous youth informing them of the food choices required for a healthy life are in abundance. However, working with a high profile Indigenous role model such as Uncle Jimmy, who has lived with diabetes and kidney failure, together with his young Thumbs Up ! ambassadors will help to get the message through.

Education surrounding healthy food options in remote areas is intrinsically linked to longer life expectancy for Indigenous communities. Healthy eating has a direct co-relation to the incidence of kidney failure which is destroying families and communities accounting for at least one in three Indigenous deaths.

Five  Arnhem Land communities of Ramingining, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Galiwinku and Yirrkala
were involved in the 2009 Thumbs Up ! pilot.
 
 “Music is the universal language of love” says Jimmy Little.

Jimmy and his team of young Indigenous artists together with the delivery of new media will be integral as the driving force to deliver the Thumbs Up ! message. The unique combination of music, song writing, story telling and positive food messages is the key to the success of Thumbs Up !

Young people naturally embrace music culture and are directly influenced by messages, trends & lifestyle choices which the artists they admire; represent. Music is the Thumbs Up ! catalyst which will engage the youth and ensure that the challenging and difficult process of delivering the Thumbs Up ! message is achieved.

Indigenous music role models such as Jimmy Little are rare. His career spanning 6 decades is unsurpassed by any other Australian artist. Jimmy’s position as an Indigenous elder and entertainment icon ensures his status and capacity to attract and engage young artists who will follow in his footsteps and continue the Thumbs Up ! legacy.