ASH Australia: 
 information on tobacco 
and indigenous people

  
 

NEWS:

Indigenous tobacco strategy an urgent priority
6/7/07:  ASH and the Heart Foundation has called for the urgent implemntation of a comprehensive tobacco strategy with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, following the release of new figures showing indigenous smoking rates remaining at devastating levels.   See ASH / Heart Foundation release  including link to ABS report 

CEITC launches new resource kit on tobacco control 
28/6/07: The Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Tobacco Control (CEITC - see below, RESOURCES) has developed a new resource kit on tobacco control for health workers. The practical manual, Talkin' Up Good Air, is full of useful info for initiating and developing community-connected action to reduce tobacco harm.

Quit campaign on mouth and throat cancer: resources
18/7/06: Quit Victoria has run a campaign on the dangers of mouth and throat cancer from smoking. Quit is keen to provide information to Aboriginal Health Workers and health professionals and Aboriginal organisations, communities and individuals about the campaign, to help raise awareness of the value in quitting smoking and with queries from patients and clients. See order info and form  - go to page 3 of the order form. 

Note that not just active but passive smoking causes throat and oral cancers - see Sharp and Edge legal cases  under LEGAL NEWS - so we should also remember to continue pushing very hard for smoking to end in all working areas, and to warn people to avoid working in or attending remaining smoky areas of pubs and clubs - especially in NSW, Vic, SA and ACT where the laws are slowest and weakest.

Philip Morris exploits Aboriginal site in ad campaign
2/9/05: Philip Morris leading brand Winfield has used an Aboriginal special site, Kata Tjuta (in Central Australia, also known as "The Olgas") in an ad campaign seen in Germany. The ad turns the site upside down in line with its "Down Under" theme. This is particularly insensitive since Aboriginal smoking rates remain shockingly high, especially in outback areas. Philip Morris has never taken responsibility for a single Aboriginal death or disease caused by its products.   See the Kata Tjuta ad      More on Aboriginal health and smoking at  CEITC website 


RESOURCES

ASH has compiled the following list of resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others concerned about the impact of smoking in indigenous communities. 

Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Tobacco Control (CEITC)
New upgraded website featuring smoking facts, history, research, projects, quitting resources, links and more - all appropriate to Aboriginal/TSI communities and health professionals working with them. See their new tobacco control resource kit for health workers, Talkin' Up Good Air 

Quit campaign on mouth and throat cancer: resources
Quit Victoria has info for Aboriginal health workers, health professionals and Aboriginal organisations, communities and individuals about the dangers of mouth and throat cancers - to help them raise awareness of the value in quitting smoking and with queries from patients or clients.  See order info and form  - go to page 3 of the order form. 

Quit also has resources on the new graphic pack health warnings available for indigenous health and community workers - contact them at www.quit.org.au.  Quit can also help in cessation work by:

  • Fax-referral system linking patients to Quitline for ongoing support. 

  • Training in smoking cessation intervention for Aboriginal Health Workers and
    Health professionals. 

For information visit Quit’s website or contact their Cessation Settings Manager at stavroula.zandes@cancervic.org.au or their Aboriginal Project Officer Peta.reynolds@cancervic.org.au

Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA) 
Non- profit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation striving for excellence in health and wellbeing. Lots of good info and ideas.

Car & home: smoke-free zone
 Aboriginal health pages of this campaign to get the smoke out of kids' faces. It has resources, contacts, healthworker info, kids' fun pages and more. 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: report to NACCHO
Nearly  54% of ATSI people aged 14 and over are regular smokers - over double the national average.  A report to NACHO highlights the urgent need for action, 2002.

Indigenous Australians and Tobacco: a literature review - comprehensive 2001 report including history, prevalence, attitudes, health effects, programs and interventions. Look under Publications - Research Reports.

Healing Time (Stages 2 & 3)
Find out about this drug education resource geared towards the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary students - from the NSW Dept of Education and Training in consultation with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

Health effects of smoking
See brief summary (2005) from The Cancer Council NSW - and note that the evidence is growing all the time!  Or for a bit more detail, see Australian government 2006 factsheet  How smoking harms your health.

 

 
 

 Page last updated on 6/7/07