Home

Clean Air Dreaming

The main aim of the Clean Air Dreaming Project is to minimise the harm caused by smoking to Aboriginal communities on the Illawarra, South and Far South Coast of NSW. Anti smoking campaigns have not worked as well for Aboriginal people as compared to the general population so there is a need for culturally appropriate approaches led by Aboriginal people that address the normalisation of smoking, the culture of sharing a smoke, to test and adapt evidence based approaches along with the use of NRT and other supports.  
Organisation or Department: 
South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corp, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service and Katungal Aboriginal Corporation
Project Activities: 

The Clean Air Dreaming runs culturally appropriate education programs in schools and communities. Provide treatment programs for Aboriginal people who want to quit smoking. Encourage Aboriginal Communities and organisations to go SMOKE FREE! We also strive to develop a working model that can be incorporated by other organisations and provide quality training for other health workers.

So far within the program we have had 109 clients access the program and have 73 active clients since 2007-08.

Project Timeframe: 

Funded from 2007 to 2009 by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing under the National Drug Strategy

Partner Organisations: 
  • The Heart Foundation
  • Shoalhaven Division of General Practice
  • Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Tobacco Control
  • Smoke Check
  • NSW Health
  • Terri Farrelly and Jasmine Sarin - evaluation and research
  • Other AMS staff - doctors, nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers and psychologists
Project Evaluation: 

The project is closely monitored and constantly evaluated with a mid term report already completed and a final evaluation due in June 2009. The project has already began to expand to Durri AMS (Kempsey) and likely to keep expanding around the State. While the complete success rate (total abstinence of smoking for more than 3 months) is as successful as mainstream interventions the important statistic is that we are encourage more and more Aboriginal people to make quit attempts which studies show increase the success of ditching those durries once and for all.

Project Resources and Publications: 

Clean Air Dreaming Quit Group booklet has been developed

Contact Details: 

Dapto: Jasmine Sarin ph (02) 4262 8777

Nowra: Fred Graham ph (02) 4428 6666

Wallaga Lake: Maria Walker ph (02) 4473 7232

State: 
New South Wales

 
  Home | Contact Us 
 
CEITC Partner Logos
Artwork by: Michelle Smith, Kevin Murray, Shawana Andrews, Donna Brown