Engaging an Aboriginal Elder in Promoting Tobacco Control Messages to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Projec

This project was developed to encourage Aboriginal smokers to quit for World No Tobacco Day 2005. A series of culturally appropriate health promotion strategies and smoke-free resources were developed for Indigenous people living in the south west area of Sydney.

A local Community Elder, who had been a non-smoker for more than 15 years, was approached and asked to tell his story. A poster with a photograph of the Elder, and the message "Our next generation needs you… quit smoking today!", and a postcard with smoking and health information and cessation services were developed and promoted. The Elder was also involved in Koori radio talks about his personal experience of quitting smoking, and information stalls at the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern.

The project partners included the Health Promotion Service of the Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS), the Aboriginal Elder, Aboriginal Housing Company, Stolen Generation Men Network, Koori Radio and Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern.

The project was funded by NSW Health for World No Tobacco Day.

For further information about this project and permission to redevelop the poster and postcard etc., contact Sharon Minniecon, Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer at the Health Promotion Service, SSWAHS, on (02) 9515 9056 or minnis@email.cs.nsw.gov.au