Milpa’s Six Steps to Stop Germs Flipchart

Minum Barreng and NACCHO are pleased to launch a new flipchart resource to support conversations about Milpa’s Six Steps to Stop Germs; six simple, everyday actions that help keep kids, families and communities healthy and strong.

Milpa’s Six Steps focuses on stopping germs from spreading in everyday life, at home, in community and at school. These actions support healthy eyes, ears, teeth, skin and bodies, and help prevent trachoma, conjunctivitis, ear and skin infections, coughs and colds, diarrhoea and oral health problems.

Australia was validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in April 2026. This was an important achievement, but the work does not stop with elimination; maintaining strong hygiene practices will help make sure trachoma stays away while supporting better health more broadly.

The new flipchart builds on the health promotion approaches that have supported Australia’s work to eliminate trachoma, including the SAFE Strategy, Clean Faces Strong Eyes and Milpa the Goanna. Milpa’s Six Steps takes these familiar messages and connects them with broader everyday hygiene practices that help stop germs spreading and support good health.

The new flipchart also recognises the importance of healthy homes in keeping kids and families healthy. Access to clean water, working washing facilities, supportive services, and safe living conditions all have a part to play in maintaining strong everyday hygiene practices. Milpa’s Six Steps brings these messages together to help stop germs spreading, keep trachoma away, and support healthy kids, families and communities.

Artwork Story

‘Milpa’s Journey’ by Lesley Martin (Arrernte)

This art piece is about Milpa’s journey through country, living in the spinifex regions travelling from community to community, drinking and having a bath in water holes on country, roaming the hills and meeting up with all different people on the lands.

Milpa has a story to tell, it’s all about his journey in visiting different communities across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia remote communities.

Milpa has a message around Clean Faces, Strong Eyes and the importance for kids to look after themselves and others, to help their younger brother’s and sister’s in washing their faces to have strong eyes.

‘The one thing that I would love is for each community to remember Milpa and me, keep up with the hygiene practices that will stop germs, and for kids to still see themselves with a clean face and a big smile’.

Copies of the flipchart are now available to order for free via the ‘Order Resources’ section on the Minum Barreng health promotion webpage.

Order New Flipchart

Acknowledgements

Minum Barreng thanks the many community members, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, primary care providers and other health professionals who contributed their insights and expertise to the development of this new resource.