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Tackling Indigenous Smoking

Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) rates is part of Quit's long-term commitment to Aboriginal programs.

What are TIS activities

Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) activities take a population health approach which aims to inform and support people in their decisions not to smoke or vape and/or to quit smoking or vaping. These activities will:

  • Encourage Community engagement in and support for local TIS activities

  • Increase Community understanding of the dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco and the links between tobacco and chronic disease, as well as the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping

  • Increase awareness of the pathways to quitting among workers and Community leaders

  • Seek to reduce exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke

  • Improve access to targeted support to quit through clinical and non-clinical services

  • Encourage and facilitate use of Aboriginal Quitline.

TIS-funded organisations are part of an overall preventive health system. Access to clinical best practices (behavioural and pharmacological) will help people who smoke increase their likelihood of quitting successfully.

A TIS-funded organisation that has clinical services might offer some of these activities itself. Developing referral pathways to the services available locally, whether your own or another service, is a central part of TIS work. Such services include:

  • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

  • Aboriginal Quitline support

  • Smoking and vaping cessation counselling

  • Developing skills and training opportunities for their staff and other organisations to be able to deliver brief intervention.

TIS-funded organisations develop and implement smokefree policies within their own organisation and can support other organisations to implement their own smokefree policies.

To find Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) activities or a TIS Team in your region, visit https://tacklingsmoking.org.au/tis-team-activities/

Suggested Resources

Quitline for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community

Quitline services across Australia have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellors who are ready to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to quit smoking or vaping. They can also support Community who are using vapes to quit the smokes. To get Culturally sensitive support to quit anywhere across Australia, call 13 7848 and ask to speak with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counsellor. 

Find out more

Aboriginal Quitline - FAQs

Aboriginal Quitline is a counselling and support service for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who want to quit smoking or vaping. We also support mob who are using vapes to quit the smokes.

Find out more

Aboriginal Quitline Podcasts

Aboriginal Quitline is proud to present our podcast series, 'Quit Stories'. These podcasts are stories from Community Members who have gone through the process of quitting and come out the other side to tell their story - to inspire and empower our Mob to do the same.

Find out more

Aunty Hazel's story

My name is Aunty Hazel and I’m from Dimboola Victoria. My mob is Wotjobaluk and I am an elder. I had never intended to give up smoking but on the 11th February 2021, that all changed.

Find out more

Naomi's story

When life was stressful, Naomi looked to cigarettes for support. Through ups and downs, smoking was a solid constant. Quitting helped to remind Naomi of her own strength. Find out how that confidence led to a healthier life for her and her daughter.

Find out more

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