Australia

Tobacco Control Organisations in Australia are continually evolving new strategies in targeting cessation and prevention of smoking through a combination of legislation, health promotion and providing assistance in quitting. The smoking rates of the general population are on the decline, yet Indigenous Australian’s are still smoking at disproportionate rates. Strategies used to date have not had the impact they have had for Australians in general. It is therefore vitally important to understand why current strategies have been less effective and what can be done to effect change. Strategies which when implemented are culturally relevant, properly resourced and freely available.

In Australia there is currently no National Indigenous Tobacco Control Strategy

The National Tobacco Strategy 1999 to 2002-03 is one of a series of strategies that together form the National Drug Strategic Framework 1998-99 to 2002-03. The Tobacco Strategy provides a national framework for tobacco control in Australia.

Recommendations for Indigenous tobacco control include:

• Audit of smoking initiatives
• Conduct a national forum on Indigenous tobacco control
• Trial nicotine replacement therapy
• Research smoking cessation

National Drug Strategy: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan 2003-2006

Australia's National Drug Strategic Framework 1998-99 to 2002-03 was set up to improve health, social and economic outcomes by reducing use of harmful drugs. It is an umbrella framework under which national plans tackling alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, and education about drugs have been formed.

The national plans apply to Australians generally and as such do not always relate well to the drugs issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan 2003-2006 has been researched and written to complement the issues raised in these national plans and make them more applicable to Indigenous peoples.

Within this complementary action plan, tobacco is recognised as a major factor contributing to the ill-health of Indigenous peoples. It recommends the following:

• Enhanced capacity of individuals, families and communities to address issues of tobacco use.
• Whole of government and non-government to implement, evaluate and improve comprehensive approaches to reduce drug-related harm.
• Substantially improved access to the appropriate range of health and well-being services that play a role in addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drugs issues.
• A range of holistic approaches, from prevention through to treatment and continuing care, that is locally available and accessible.
• Workforce initiatives to enhance the capacity of community-controlled and mainstream organisations to provide quality services.
• Increased ownership and sustainable partnerships of research, monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of information.

For further information and details regarding how to obtain a hardcopy of the report contact:

National Drug Strategy Unit,
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601,
Ph: (02) 6289 8507, Fax: (02) 6289 7228,
Email: nationaldrugstrategy@health.gov.au

For information on Government and non-Government organisations and their Indigenous tobacco control policy and projects see Appendix A: Audit Results in the Galnya Angin (4.8MB) report

Download a Summary of Existing Legislation (compiled by Commonwealth Department of Health, Feb 2005) which details both national and state legislation.