The Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon, today encouraged organisations with expertise in smoking prevention and quitting smoking to join a $10.7 million initiative to reduce smoking amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mr Snowdon said Indigenous rates of smoking have sat at 49 percent for a decade, and the $10.7 million will be spent on community-based projects that provide culturally-appropriate, effective anti-smoking messages and campaigns.

“This Government is committed to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. Reducing Indigenous tobacco smoking is vital to achieving this health improvement,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The funding round is open now, and closes on the 7th August, and we are seeking proposals that will assist Indigenous communities to promote smoke-free messages in areas of highest need – areas with higher than average smoking rates and where no programs currently exist.

“We are looking for organisations that have a proven ability working with Indigenous communities and expertise in promoting smoke-free messages and helping people give up smoking,” he said.

“To date six community projects have been implemented. These target pregnant women, youth, families, and health services and organisations. They include a mix of approaches to inform Indigenous smokers of the dangers of smoking.”

The $10.7 million forms part of the $14.5 million Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative, which commenced in July 2008 and aims to reduce Indigenous smoking rates through three key areas:

• Trialling community interventions and targeted communication campaigns
• Research into the higher rates of smoking and the barriers to quitting.
• Smoking prevention and quitting training for the Indigenous health workforce.

“This holistic approach is designed to support Indigenous people in tackling the damage from tobacco smoking,” Mr Snowdon said.

The Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative is in addition to the $805.5 million Federal Government investment in Indigenous Health through COAG.
More information on the funding round can be found at http://www.health.gov.au/tenders

From Govt Media Release, 13 July 2009: see online here.