Remote Aboriginal Tobacco Project

Public

The project aims to build capacity within Aboriginal health agencies and Aboriginal
communities in order to gain a maximum reduction in tobacco smoking and passive
smoking exposure among Aboriginal people living in regional and remote communities
identified in the geographic coverage area.

Organisation or Department

Country Health SA Hospital Incorporated

State

South Australia

Project Timeframe

1 July 2008 to 30 June 2012

Project Activities

Facilitating Quitskills and SmokeCheck training with Aboriginal health professionals.
Promoting smoking cessation and Aboriginal specific events in the region.
Undertaking education projects at local schools / youth centres
Developing pathways for smoke free Aboriginal community control health service through policy development

Partner Organisations

Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA)
Pika Wiya Health Services, Port Augusta
Port Augusta Hospital and Regional Health Services
Males in Black, Port Augusta

What in particular helped the project?

Having personal connections and familiarity with the community.
Developing partnerships with other providers of health services and identifying community people who are willing to participate.

Working with our mob, giving them information regarding smoking and then seeing people give up smoking, is a very rewarding thing. As is helping parents understand that they can make a difference in their child's health by minimising the harm to their children caused by second hand smoke.

Knowledge is a powerful thing we need to give that knowledge to our communities for our future's sake.

What in particular didn't work so well?

Trying to do too much at one time and spreading yourself too thin across the region. It became apparent that although you had good intentions to promote on a large scale throughout the region, not all organisations were ready to take on the information and participate in various activities. I have since learnt to undertake activities in small chunks and let your successes do the talking for you.

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

I found that the information out there targeting Aboriginal communities are missing the mark. Many of the members of the community have very little understanding of the dangers of smoking and how it can effect your body. There needs to be a new perspective regarding social marketing which target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Project Evaluation

We are developing an evaluation process with the Cancer Council of South Australia and will promote the finding at a later date.

Project Resources and Publications

We have not yet developed any resources but understand that there is a shortage of Aboriginal specific resources that would be able to reach our people more appropriately. We feel that web sites like this will help us develop and identify those recourses in the near future