Tobacco use is of particular concern for the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, amongst whom smoking prevalence is significantly higher than in the non-Indigenous population, and the rate is not falling as it is in the rest of Australia. Previous research by Professor Alan Clough’s group, working closely with Indigenous populations as partners, demonstrates that reducing Indigenous smoking and harm from tobacco smoke is achievable, and continued government investment is justified.
National Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant: ‘Top End’ Smoke-free Spaces Project
The ‘Top End’ Smoke-free Spaces Project works alongside Indigenous collaborators, and is in the process of designing an intervention to encourage smoke free homes in remote communities. The effects of incentives for householders combined with managing and monitoring indoor second-hand smoke exposure will be evaluated.
Heart Foundation Queensland CEO, Stephen Vines says the research into creating smoke-free spaces in Indigenous communities addresses a big health issue and should benefit the most vulnerable, including children and the elderly, who are being exposed to passive smoking.
Arnhem Land Progress Association (ALPA), Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) and JCU ‘Smoke-free Spaces Project’
The project is aimed at assisting and supporting households in Northern Territory Indigenous communities to create and extend smoke-free homes and areas.
ALPA, ARDS, and JCU will initially collaborate with three communities to understand how residents see second-hand smoke exposure and associated health risks.
Two ARDS community engagement teams, each with extensive bilingual skills and experience in ARDS’ Discovery Education Methodology, will then work with community leaders and households to develop effective explanations and support community-inspired ideas derived from cultural expectations and rules for the creation and expansion of smoke-free spaces.
(ICAN) QUIT in Pregnancy project
AITHM will host the (ICAN) QUIT in Pregnancy project in northern Australia and manage the Queensland and Northern Territory sites in collaboration with teams based at the University of Newcastle.
Based on a decade of work co-developing smoking cessation strategies with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, the (ICAN) QUIT in Pregnancy project resources have been specifically developed to be a health promotion platform for Aboriginal communities as they draw on the knowledge and expertise of the community.
