Healthy living

Physical activity is important for good health and wellbeing, and has social and emotional benefits.

To get the most benefits, try participating in different types of activities that you enjoy.

Aim to be as active as much as possible during your day.

Benefits of physical activity

Being active regularly will help:

• healthy weight management
• improve mood and reduce stress
• improve heart health
• reduce chances of developing chronic diseases and some cancers
• maintain muscle mass and mobility as you get older
• keep older adults physically strong and better able to move about without falling or becoming too tired.

Tips for being more active

It's never too late to start doing something.

You should choose an activity you enjoy as you are more likely to keep it up.

You don't have to spend money to be active.

To be more active, you can:

• try different activities for different benefits - walking, cycling, water aerobics, line dancing, yoga, belly dancing
• exercise with friends - it's easier to stay committed and more fun
• walk or ride to the shop instead of driving
• get a step counter (pedometer) to increase your daily goal
• walk your dog every day, or just walk every day
• park your car further away and walk
• get off the bus one stop earlier
• take the stairs instead of the lift
• join a sport or recreation club or sign-up for a corporate event
• spend a couple of hours gardening at least once a week.

To find out how to be more active at work, read about healthy workplaces.

Find out about physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians on the Australian Government's Department of Health website.

Active living in the NT

To find healthy active lifestyle choices in your region in the NT, read:

• cycling and walking
• find your local council
• parks and reserves.

For information on sport programs, recreation development and events, go to the Territory Families, Housing and Communities.

You can also visit the following websites:

• Commonwealth National Parks on the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website
• Heart Foundation walking
• Parkrun
• Move it Mob Style.

To find out information on healthy weights, healthy eating at all ages and ways to keep your weight at a healthy level, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health website.

Moulds are fungi, like mushrooms, which are present at low levels both indoors and outdoors.

You are exposed to mould on a daily basis without any harm. Moulds need organic materials like wood, paper or dirt and moisture to grow. The most common moulds are black, green or white, although they can be other colours.

They can produce a musty smell and release countless tiny, lightweight spores which travel through the air. This happens when moulds are disturbed, such as during cleaning, or in dry conditions when a house or building is being dried out.

If mouldy materials are not removed or properly cleaned, high levels of airborne mould spores may be a health risk if you are sensitive.

You can be exposed by eating, inhaling or touching mould spores.

If you are sensitive to mould

Mould can trigger asthma attacks and make other respiratory and allergic conditions worse.

Symptoms depend on the amount of airborne spores you are exposed to, and how sensitive you are to moulds.

People who should avoid an area where mould clean-up or repair work is occurring are:

• children, especially infants
• pregnant women
• people over 65 years old
• people with a weakened system, allergies, severe asthma, chronic obstructive or allergic lung disease.

Health effects of mould exposure

If you develop health problems after mould exposure, you should get medical advice.

If you are sensitive to mould, any of the following can happen:

• stuffy nose
• irritated eyes
• wheezing
• skin irritation.

If you are allergic to mould, any of the following may happen:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• you may develop mould infections in your lungs if you have a:
  • weak immune system or
  • chronic lung condition such as obstructive lung disease.

Testing for mould

You should assume that a building's interior is contaminated with mould if any of the following apply:

• it has been flooded for more than 2 days
• visible mould is growing
• there is visible water damage
• you can smell mildew.

If your building has been flooded, you should clean up and dry out the house as soon as possible.

How to protect yourself

If you are going into a room or area that has a lot of mould for a long time, or you are cleaning visible mould, you should protect yourself from exposure.

If you are sensitive to mould, you should not carry out this activity and avoid the area particularly while a clean-up is occurring.

If you are asthmatic, you should keep your medication with you.

If you show signs of an asthma attack, you should get immediate medical attention.

You should wear long-sleeved clothing so your skin isn't exposed, a shower cap, goggles, gloves and an appropriate respirator to prevent breathing in mould spores.

Using a respirator

You can buy special respirators called P1 or P2 for filtering out airborne mould spores from most hardware stores.

Ordinary paper dust masks and cloths do not usually filter out mould spores.

You should be aware of the following about respirators:

• they can be hot and uncomfortable to wear
• if the seal around the face is poor, they won't work as well - for example, if you have a beard
• it does not filter out gases like carbon monoxide
• it can be harder for you to breathe normally, so if you have a heart or lung condition, ask your doctor before using it.

How to remove mould

For large, visible amounts of mould such as after a flood, consider getting a professional cleaning company to undertake the clean-up. For smaller mould clean-ups, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Clean

Household products usually work if used correctly. You should read the product's label to see how much and where you can use them, as well as warnings about what chemicals you can mix them with.

Clean one room at a time. You should use 2 buckets - one for rinse water and the other for the cleaner. This keeps most of the dirty rinse water out of your cleaning solution.

Rinse out your sponge, mop or cleaning cloth in the rinse bucket. Wring it dry and keep it rolled up tight when you put it in the cleaner bucket.

You can also try any of the following:

• 70% solution of white wine vinegar with water - 1 litre of vinegar in 450ml water
• 80% methylated spirits in water - 1 litre methylated spirits in 250ml water
• 1.5 cups of household chlorine bleach in 10 litres of water.

Using bleach

You should never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning product of detergent with ammonia.

Do not use a bleach-based solution on aluminium, stainless steel surfaces or linoleum. Use a household detergent.

Step 2. Disinfect

Disinfect surfaces with a disinfectant product. Or you can use half a cup of household chlorine bleach in 10 litres of water.

Step 3. Dry

Open the doors and windows and let the house air out. Use fans, heaters and dehumidifiers to dry the house out.

Contact

For more information, contact Environmental Health.

Healthy eating and good nutrition is important for health and wellbeing.

A varied, balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit and whole foods can prevent and manage many lifestyle diseases that affect Territorians today.

Healthy eating resources

Where you work affects your health, including your physical, mental, economic and social wellbeing. It can also affect the health and wellbeing of your family and community. 

Promoting good health in your workplace can therefore create positive changes in your wider community.

Benefits of a healthy workplace

Organisations that have workplace health and wellbeing programs are known to:

• increase employee morale and engagement
• improve their company image
• reduce workplace injuries and any related costs
• encourage employees to enjoy work and stay in an organisation for a longer time.

Healthy workers are:

• more productive
• more engaged in their work
• known to take less sick leave
• more energetic and can concentrate better.

Workplace health and wellbeing programs

A successful workplace health and wellbeing program:

• doesn’t have to be expensive
• thinks about workplace health and safety
• identifies health issues and needs
• is voluntary and has high attendance
• is sustainable and has long-term commitment
• is assessed and reviewed when needed
• looks at individual and organisational issues
• is supported by management, and senior managers are involved
• is accessible to all employees no matter what their health status, location or role is
• has coordinators who have training in health promotion and relevant resources.

Guide to workplace health and wellbeing

You can find out more about starting a workplace health and wellbeing program in your organisation on the Department of Health website.

No Germs on Me is a social marketing campaign to promote the benefits of regular face washing and hand washing with soap. It was developed to address the high rates of infection among children in Aboriginal communities.

The television commercials and posters on this page are useful resources to promote routine hand washing with soap after going to the toilet, changing babies' nappies and before touching food. Research shows this is the most cost effective way to stop the spread of infection.

The television commercials below also show the importance of children washing their hands and faces before touching young babies to help stop the spread of respiratory infections and trachoma.

Aboriginal people living in remote communities guided the development of these resources. An urban campaign has also been developed to promote hand washing to the general public.

No Germs on Me TV commercials have a light-hearted, humorous tone and are designed to stimulate thinking about the benefits of hand washing.

The catch cry 'didya wash ya hands?' and logo with the response 'no germs on me' brand all campaign materials.

Campaign material

The No Germs on Me commercials and posters below are useful for schools, childcare centres, remote community stores and public health professionals to promote safe hygiene.

Posters with AFL players

Smoking tobacco is a major cause of ill health and disease in the Northern Territory (NT).

What happens when you quit

When you quit smoking, your body will go through the following process after:

• 8 hours - excess carbon monoxide is out of your blood
• 5 days - most nicotine is out of your body
• 1 week - your sense of taste and smell get better
• 4 weeks - your blood flow improves
• 3 months - your lungs work better
• 12 months - your risk of disease is halved
• 5 years - your risk of stroke is greatly reduced.

Find out more information on tobacco and your health.

More information

For more information, go to the Department of Health website.

Contact

Contact the tobacco compliance and liaison officer by calling 08 8999 2830 or emailing mhaod.doh@nt.gov.au.

Vaping is inhaling a vapour that comes from an electronic device called an e-cigarette or vape.

They can look like metal pens, USB drives or small boxes.

Vaping looks just like smoking, but instead of tobacco, the device uses flavoured liquids or 'juice'.

The liquid is heated and turned into a vapour, which is then inhaled.

The smell of vapour is very different to traditional tobacco smoke.

Concerns about vaping

Most vape products are not regulated or tested and ingredients vary greatly.

Chemicals found in vapes

Some of the chemicals used in vapes are considered carcinogenic. This means they can cause cancer.

Testing of many other chemicals in vapes is inadequate or non-existent. Few have been tested in a ‘heat and inhale’ situation.

Potential cancer causing chemicals in vapes can include:

• formaldehyde
• heavy metals
• acetaldehyde
• acrolein.

Ingredients of vaping products are also found in:

• cleaning products
• nail polish remover
• weed killer
• bug spray.

Illegal nicotine in vapes

In Australia, it is against the law for vaping products to contain nicotine.

The exception is for a person who is trying to quit traditional smoking under the care of a doctor and a pharmacist.

Nicotine found in vapes can cause addiction just like smoking traditional cigarettes.

It can also affect several important steps in the development of cancer, and cause aggravation and recurrence of the disease.

Misleading labelling

The labels on vape products can be misleading. They don't always disclose all the ingredients.

Most illegally contain nicotine as well as other harmful chemicals.

Toxic metals used in vape devices

Some vape devices are made with metals that can be harmful to your health if ingested or inhaled, such as:

• arsenic
• lead
• nickel
• chromium.

When the metal components of vapes are heated during use, it can cause them to release tiny particles that are inhaled directly into the lungs.

Health conditions caused by vaping

There is concern that vaping can lead to:

• lung disease
• heart disease
• cancers.

Since it takes many years for diseases to develop, and vaping is still relatively new, it's hard to be sure of the long-term health effects.

Short-term health effects of vaping can include:

• throat irritation
• coughing
• nausea
• dizziness
• headaches.

Rules for buying and using vapes

Non-nicotine vapes can only be bought from licenced tobacco retailers.

The same rules apply to buying non-nicotine vapes as traditional tobacco products.

Only pharmacists can sell nicotine-containing vapes.

Vaping and young people

The same rules for smoking cigarettes apply to vaping.

Even though it's against the law, some young people might still be sold or given vapes.

Why young people vape

Young people may choose to vape for various reasons, including:

• curiosity
• peer pressure
• belief that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes
• appealing flavours
• coping mechanism for stress or emotions
• easier access and more affordable than cigarettes.

Vaping is especially concerning for young people because their brains are still developing, and the chemicals in vapes can harm their brain development.

Young people can also become addicted to nicotine quicker, and at lower or less regular levels of consumption, than adults.

It can also have an impact on:

• learning
• memory
• attention
• impulse control
• mood.

Talking to young people about vaping

If you think your child or a young person in your care is vaping, it's important to talk to them about it.

Try to make the conversation relaxed and easy.

You can call the Quitline on 13 78 78 to get further information and advice.

There are also services that young people can reach out to for help, including:

• Kids Helpline
• Headspace
• ReachOut

Support

If you're concerned about your vaping or need help to stop, talk to your doctor or call Quitline on 13 78 78.

If you need help quitting traditional smoking and you're considering using a vape, speak with your doctor. There may be other safer evidence-based options that a doctor can help you with.

For non-smokers, there are no health benefits of using vapes, it only causes harm.

Resources

The 'Do You Know What You’re Vaping' campaign provides resources to help young people, parents and carers, and teachers get the facts about vaping.

The campaign has been reproduced with permission of New South Wales (NSW) Health.

To read about the research carried out for this campaign, go to the NSW Health website.

There are different pathways onto the Banned Drinker Register (BDR). This information is for people who are applying to the BDR registrar to place themselves or another person on the BDR.

For police or court and parole information, read more about BDR pathways.

How authorised person referrals are reviewed

The BDR registrar makes a determination as to whether a referred person should be placed on the BDR.

Before making a decision, the registrar reviews the outcome of any clinical assessments and all other available evidence. They will also attempt to make contact with the referred person.

In making a decision, the registrar must be satisfied as to the referred person's identity and that:

• they are misusing or have misused alcohol
• the misuse of alcohol is a risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of the person or any other person (including children and other dependants).

If the criteria is met, the BDR registrar will issue a banned drinker order (BDO) for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months.

The registrar also decides whether a person’s police or registrar-issued BDO should be reduced if they have completed a therapeutic support program.

Income management

The BDR registrar can make income management orders if:

• a BDO is in force for 12 months and
• the registrar is satisfied it would benefit the person.

This means 70% of welfare payment can’t be used to access cash, alcohol, gambling services, tobacco or pornography.

If you have an income management order and you do not agree with the decision, you can apply to the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) for a review.

It is free to apply and a review is done as soon as practicable, go to the NTCAT website.

Challenging a decision

Find out how to get a review of your banned drinker order.

You can choose to get an assessment for therapeutic support at any time, even if you are not on the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) or have already completed a ban.

Completion of a therapeutic support program can reduce your banned drinker order (BDO).

Get a clinical assessment

Clinical assessments may be used to assist the BDR registrar with deciding whether to make a BDO.

They may also be used to assess the need for therapeutic support or a reduction of a BDO.

Health care workers and the BDR registrar can refer you for a clinical assessment. You can also refer yourself.

You can choose whether or not you want to complete the assessment, regardless of who has referred you.

If you need help arranging an assessment, the BDR office can help you with this.

The assessments are done by qualified alcohol and other drug clinicians.

Read the assessments and therapeutic supports information PDF (133.1 KB).

Declining an assessment

You will not be forced to complete an assessment.

If you have been referred to the BDR for an assessment, declining the assessment does not mean you won’t be put on the BDR.

The clinician will make the report without your input based on information available. The BDR registrar will then make a determination.

If you change your mind and want to complete the assessment, contact the BDR office.

What it includes

The assessment is a comprehensive overview of your health and wellbeing, and can take 1 to 2 hours to complete.

It will include:

• your history with alcohol use
• a cognitive assessment
• identifying any other ongoing health problems
• details about your home and support networks
• blood tests if needed.

The assessment will determine what therapeutic support is best suited to your needs.

Benefits

After an assessment, you can be referred to free therapeutic support programs that are best suited to your needs.

This can include:

• residential rehabilitation programs
• cognitive behaviour therapy
• relationship counselling
• relapse prevention
• coping skills training
• anger management courses
• social and emotional wellbeing programs.

Apply to reduce your ban

If you complete a therapeutic support program, you can apply to reduce your police or registrar-issued BDO.

Even if you don't use the same support programs that were recommended from the assessment, you can still apply for a reduction. You must be able to provide information about the program and evidence of your completion.

Contact the BDR office to discuss a reduction to your ban.

Eligibility

You cannot apply if you are on the BDR through a condition of a court or parole order.

Services by region

• Barkly PDF (359.1 KB)
• Central Australia PDF (389.4 KB)
• Darwin PDF (342.8 KB)
• Katherine PDF (403.6 KB)
• Nhulunbuy PDF (331.2 KB)