Oceania Tobacco Control Conference 2007

The first Oceania Tobacco Control Conference 'From Vision to Reality' was held in Auckland, New Zealand from 5 -7 September, 2007 and attracted 350 delegates from Australia, New Zealand, USA and the Pacific Nations. An Indigenous Gateway Meeting which was held on the preceeding Tuesday 4 September attracted over 110 delegates, 30 of whom were Indigenous Australians. The theme of the Conference was 'From Vision to Reality' and focused on future directions rather than reflecting on past achievements. There was a good representation of Indigenous presenters from all across the Pacific region and delegates were able to hear about experiences from other Indigenous perspectives. The most starkly apparent message that came across was that while smoking rates were trending down in developed nations, Indigenous people generally experienced much higher smoking rates and Indigenous Australian's still have among the highest rates of all. Finally a Declaration by the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania was presented to the Delegates at the last Plennary session. Download the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania Declaration

Visit the Conference website at www.smokefreeoceania.org.nz

Indigenous Scholarships to attend the Conference

The Conference organisers together with the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and CEITC were able to fund 13 Indigenous Scholarships to attend the conference. The Scholarship attracted many applications from all over Australia but after careful consideration the final 13 were chosen by a selection panel. Scholarships were awarded to the following people:

James Charles - Muna Paiendi Community Health Service SA
Alwin Chong - Aboriginal Health Council of SA
Lyn Dimer - National Heart Foundation WA
Lynette Masuda - Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service WA
Sharon Minniecon - Sydney South West Area Health Service NSW
Graham Nettle - Childhood & Adolescent Health Service WA
Renee Owen - Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-op VIC
David Parfitt - Department of Health and Community Services NT
Selma Kum Sing - Queensland Health
Sharon Wallace - Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education NT
James Ward - Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW
Peggy Manton-Williams - Redlands Health Service QLD
Dallas Young - Qld

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