Working up a smoking policy

Smoking in Aboriginal communities is a major issue, with about 50% of Aboriginal people being smokers. The effects of smoking in and across communities is huge, with smoking causing 20% of preventable deaths and being responsible for 12.1% of the burden of disease. Smoking doesn't just impact on Aboriginal people's health. It also adds financial stress to Aboriginal people's lives through directing money to tobacco companies and away from Aboriginal individuals and families. In addition, smoking significantly impacts on the strength of communities and the transfer of cultural heritage to future generations because scores of people die from smoking-related disease before they have passed on their knowledge, skills and experiences to the next generation. For these reasons and others, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) recognised that it needed take a lead on the issue of tobacco.