Seven Indigenous community members, including one man "who wants to see his grandchildren grow up", have signed up to a new Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service initiative.
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The Community Fitbit Program received $3000 from a Wodonga Council grants round and involves weekly sessions with either a dietitian or an exercise physiologist.
AWAHS Aboriginal health worker Selina Clark said an information session was held last week for the participants.
"We had a few workers involved including the doctor and our chronic disease nurse, helping them reflect on why they're actually here and goal-setting," she said.
"We're targeting Aboriginal people who have diabetes, low physical activity and their BMI is over 30.
"Our idea is to help people be motivated to aim for 10,000 steps a day.
"During the 10-week program they have the option to rent-to-keep their Fitbits, so they work out a payment plan with us."
Ms Clark said 28 AWAHS staff had originally taken part and it was now being piloted.
"We realised we needed to roll this out to the community and that's why we applied for the grant," she said.
"After we got the Wodonga Council grant, we then got Kelly [Goldsworthy] on board through CSU, who have also funded next year's program."
Ms Goldsworthy is an Indigenous engagement and research associate in CSU's Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health.
"We're going to be researching the project," Ms Goldsworthy said.
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"Selina has run quite a few programs in the community that have been really successful, but nothing has been written up and that's why we wanted to do this."
AWAHS GP Kirralea Bartholomew said Flex Out Physiotherapy had also been key to the program getting off the ground, providing staff to see participants at no cost.
"One week they'll see a dietitian, and one week they'll have an exercise class," she said.
"Some of them are pretty nervous about exercise, but they're motivated to improve their health.
"It's not just about numbers - it's improving their exercise levels from what they are now, which for a lot of them is very low."
Wodonga Council awarded community impact grants to 10 organisations earlier this month including the The LEAP Centre Wodonga and Birallee Park Neighbourhood House.
