The Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) Free, Fresh & Fit program aims to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by reducing the prevalence of tobacco use.

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The funding is for undertaking multi-level approaches to tobacco control, which combine a range of evidence-based tobacco control activities to meet the needs of different population groups within a region.

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The Free, Fresh & Fit team consists of 5 TIS workers and a Coordinator.

Our activities take a community health promotion approach which aims to inform and support people in their decisions not to smoke or to quit smoking.

 

These activities will:

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• Encourage community involvement in and support for local tobacco control activities

• Increase community understanding of the dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco and the links between tobacco and chronic disease

• Improve knowledge, skills and understanding of the health impacts of smoking and pathways to quitting among workers and community leaders

• Promote the benefits of never becoming a smoker

• Seek to reduce environmental smoke and exposure to passive smoking

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

 

Free, Fresh & Fit is a regional team and service the following communities; Griffith, Lake Cargelligo/Murrin Bridge, Hay, Hillston, Darlington Point, Leeton, Narrandera, Tumut/Brungle, Wagga, Cootamundra, Young, Junee, Finley, Moama, Deniliquin and West Wyalong, Jerilderie, Balranald, Henty, Holbrook, Tumbarumba, Gundagai, Condobolin, Forbes, Grenfell, Cowra, Orange, Bathurst, Oberon, Lithgow, Portland, Mudgee, Gulgong & Dunedoo

 

We run a number of different programs and activities, including:

 

Free, Fresh & Fit  

 

Free, Fresh & Fit aims to provide education around the harms of smoking and instill prevention of uptake. It also incorporates the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle through a nutritious diet and physical activity.  

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Free, Fresh & Fit 2 

 

Free, Fresh & Fit 2 is delivered to Indigenous high school students to discuss the dangers of smoking cigarettes and vaping. We also incorporate family history and generational smoking and smoking and its effects on sports and physical activity.  

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Beat the Boondah 

 

Beat the Boondah is a 30-minute quit smoking program that is delivered across our region. The program is designed to assist Indigenous people who are wishing to quit smoking or would like the tools for future attempts. 

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We’re Tobacco Free for New Life  

 

We’re Tobacco Free for New Life is a quit support group delivered to pregnant women, young mothers and their immediate family members that discusses the importance of not smoking whilst pregnant and the dangers of secondhand smoke around young children.  

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 Champions Campaign 

 

Our Smoke Free Champions Campaign aims to showcase local community advocates that have quit smoking or have never smoked to share their stories via books, posters, short videos and social media posts.  

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Passport to Better Health 

 

Passport to Better Health has been modelled from the NSW Health One Deadly Step program. Passport to Better Health aims to provide Indigenous community members better access to local health services in their communities by engaging local service providers to participate at the event. We also aim to educate communities within our region on the health effects of Chronic Disease by performing a mini health assessment.  

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Smoke Free Environments  

 

Free, Fresh & Fit partner with organisations in the region to implement or amend smoke free policies and provide signage to promote a healthy, smoke free work environment.  

 

We also participate and engage with organisation to create Smoke Free Environments at various community events within the region.  

 

Free, Fresh & Fit also encourage community members to pledge to make their homes and cars smoke free through our No Smoke Ngurang pledge campaign.

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Campaigns 

 

Free, Fresh & Fit also run a number of campaigns through our social media platforms including: 

 

• No Smoke Ngurang Pledge campaign: Pledging to make the home and car smoke free to minimise the effects of secondhand smoke, as well as, pledging to quit or support a family member to quit smoking.

  

• Quit For Me campaign: Focusing on Indigenous babies and children and quitting for them and the future generation. 

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•  Smoke Free Champions campaign: Approaching local advocates from various target audiences to share their experiences and showcase the importance of a healthy, smoke free lifestyle. These include Champions from the LGBTQIA+ community, young Indigenous mothers, Elders, local Indigenous athletes and community role models.